France: Missile pledge confirms inspections are working

Iraq’s decision to begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles confirms that UN weapons inspections are working, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said today.

“France has noted Iraq’s decision to destroy the missiles,” de Villepin said in Paris. “It is an important step in the process of the peaceful disarmament of Iraq. It confirms that inspectors are getting results.”

De Villepin’s comments came hours after Iraq said it will begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles tomorrow, the last day of a deadline given by chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix.

Iraq said it would comply even though it does not agree with Blix’s order, which was issued because the missiles can fly farther than the 93 mile limit imposed by the UN Security Council at the end of the 1991 Gulf War.

The issue of the Al Samoud missiles has become a litmus test of Iraq’s will to comply with the weapons inspections. President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair have threatened war if they don’t see Iraq as complying.