Clark backs peace proposals

By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor

Prime Minister Helen Clark has given tentative support to a proposal from Germany and France aimed at averting a war with Iraq.

At her post-Cabinet press conference yesterday, following a parade by troops who served in East Timor, she said she was looking forward to hearing more about it.

Germany and France have suggested doubling or tripling the number of weapons inspectors in Iraq; setting up a body to keep sites already inspected under surveillance; increasing monitoring and collecting of information in Iraq; establishing a co-ordination and information processing centre to supply the inspectors with intelligence information; and establishing "a demanding and realistic framework for moving forward in the assessment and elimination of problems".

The United States has rejected the proposals, with Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissing them as a "distraction, not a solution".

But Helen Clark said the Government supported a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

"Suggestions by two major powers like France and Germany trying to avert a war have to be taken seriously and we would look forward to hearing more."

All eyes would be on UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix's report to the Security Council on Saturday morning, she said.

Mr Blix seemed more optimistic about the level of co-operation he was getting from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime on his present visit to Iraq.

"But the question, I suppose, will be whether anything Iraq does now, short of taking Mr Hussein out of the picture, will be sufficient to prevent a war."

Helen Clark said New Zealand's frigates in the Gulf of Oman monitoring terrorists as part of operation Enduring Freedom were separate from any war with Iraq.

She rejected a suggestion that they could be aiding a war by keeping shipping lanes clear.

"If the mighty aircraft carriers of the United States and the United Kingdom are dependent on the good offices of [HMNZS] Te Mana I'd be rather surprised."

Herald feature: Iraq