No support for new UN resolution: Rau

Just as the United States gives finishing touches to the draft of the second resolution it plans to introduce in the UN Security Council, German President Johannes Rau today made it clear that his country is not going to support any such initiative. Reaffirming the already well-stated German position, Rau said his country would resist any move to validate military strikes on Iraq. The subject, he added, was discussed at length during his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and there was apparently a convergence of views. ‘‘Both India and Germany share the view that a military conflict needs to be avoided at all costs. We will, for our part, do everything to not let the situation cross limits,’’ Rau said at a press conference here.

Berlin has already come out strongly against US-backed moves within the Council. The Germans not only opposed the earlier resolution brought in by Washington but have also repeatedly announced their lasting faith in the efforts being carried out by the UN inspectors in Iraq.