In The News

Atom Agency Finds Pyongyang in Violation of Arms Accords

James Dao February 12, 2003
At the U.S.’s behest, the International Atomic Energy Agency has now found North Korea in violation of international nuclear weapons agreements. The Agency has sent the issue to the United Nations Security Council for review and to determine the appropriate action, which could include economic sanctions against North Korea. While China supports the U.S. initiative, Russia opposes it, saying...

Escaping North Korea’s Nuclear Trap

Nancy Soderberg February 12, 2003
Nancy Soderberg, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reviews the history of U.S. negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program. In each case, direct negotiations have led to North Korean compliance, suggesting that the Bush administration’s most viable option in resolving the current crisis is to negotiate bilaterally with North Korea once again, and offer incentives such...

Allies Face a Fresh Crisis

Joseph Fitchett February 10, 2003
The differences over Iraq that emerged between France, Germany and the US in the UN Security Council have now widened and spilled over into NATO. The Bush administration and Congressional leaders were furious at a news report about a secret Franco-German plan to boost the number of arms inspectors in Iraq. That dispute has now spread to NATO as France, along with Germany and Belgium, blocked...

Schröder's back is against the wall

Elise Kissling February 7, 2003
Behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Great Britain, Spain, and several eastern European states has left France and Germany the only major EU opponents of war in Iraq. If France abandons German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder during the next UN war resolution vote, Schroder will be on his own in Europe. Schroder must maintain the support of antiwar Germans while earning the backing of his own Christian...

Filmmakers Seek Protection from U.S. Dominance

Alan Riding February 5, 2003
The World Trade Organization has begun a new round of negotiations on trade in services, and European filmmakers, fearful of foreign media giants intruding further into domestic industries, are hosting a cultural convention at the Louvre to campaign for continued cultural protection. Although cultural products are currently exempt from the regulations of the WTO, American and other international...

Crisis Over Saddam a Huge Test for Europe

Doug Bandow January 31, 2003
The leaders of France and Germany both threaten to veto a UN Security Council war resolution. Such a veto could deal a significant blow to the United States’ legitimacy in pursuing war. For the United States to take that threat seriously, however, France and Germany must develop what is now ambiguous opposition into real action and support from other like-minded nations. Otherwise, Doug Bandow...

Text, Chief UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix's Report on Iraq

January 27, 2003
In compliance with the U.N. resolutions governing the weapons inspections in Iraq since November, Chief Inspector Hans Blix reported today to the Security Council about the progress of his team. Mr. Blix both commended the Iraqi government for granting access to weapons sites and lamented the Iraqis' lack of compliance with the substance of weapons restrictions. Questions still remain as...