RUSSIA - Feb. 10 - Moscow, Paris & Berlin Issue Declaration To Delay War In Iraq.

Visiting Paris, Pres. Putin and French Pres. Jacques Chirac issue a joint Franco-Russian-German declaration calling for intensified weapons inspections as an alternative to war in Iraq. (The declaration follows talks in Berlin over the weekend between Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder). The declaration, which Chirac reads after meeting Putin, says: "Russia, Germany and France favour the continuation of the inspections and a substantial reinforcement of their human and technical capacities through all possible means and in liaison with the inspectors... Russia, Germany and France note that the position they express coincides with that of a large number of countries, within the Security Council in particular". It says the debate over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq "must continue in the spirit of friendship and respect that characterises our relations with the United States". Chirac adds that the alliance remains sound. But he states flatly that "nothing today justified a war", and says that "in my view, there is no indisputable proof" that weapons of mass destruction exist in Iraq. Chirac says: "There is still an alternative to war. The use of force can only be as a last resort". The three countries' leaders also call for "a substantial reinforcement" of the UN weapons inspection process currently being conducted in Iraq. French officials say the declaration is consistent with the Belgian, French and German refusal on Feb. 10 to accept to provide NATO guarantees to Turkey in the event of a war with Iraq (see Turkey).