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President George W. Bush said Saturday the United States will present a new UN Security Council resolution next week claiming "in clear and simple terms" that Iraq is not complying with UN disarmament demands.
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "has no intention of disarming," Bush told reporters after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Aznar at his Texas ranch.
Resolution 1441 "did not ask for hints of progress or minor concessions. It demanded full and immediate disarmament," Bush said.
"The Security Council has taken a clear stand and it now faces a clear choice. With all the world watching, the council will now show whether it means what it says," he said.
For his part, Aznar said Spain is ready to fight together with the United States "against weapons of mass destruction and terrorism."
Aznar, a staunch ally in US efforts to press Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, arrived at Bush's ranch Friday night from Mexico.
Bush Says Unwilling to Wait Two Months for New Iraq Resolution
US President George W. Bush said Saturday that he was not willing to wait two months for the UN Security Council to adopt a new resolution on Iraq.
He made the comment during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar held after their meeting at Bush's Texas ranch.
"Time is short," he said. "This is the chance for the Security Council to show its relevance, and I believe the Security Council will show its relevance because Saddam Hussein has not disarmed."
The new resolution was expected to be introduced next week.
"Early next week, working with our friends and allies, we will introduce an additional Security Council resolution that will set out in clear and simple terms that Iraq is not complying with Resolution 1441," said Bush.
"We will discuss this resolution with members of the Security Council and we will hear again from Chief (UN weapons) Inspector (Hans) Blix," he said.
"During these final deliberations, there is but one question for the Council to address: Is Saddam Hussein complying with Resolution 1441? That resolution did not ask for hints of progress or minor concessions. It demanded full and immediate disarmament. That, and that alone, is the issue before the Council."
"He has no intention of disarming, otherwise he would have done so," Bush said after he and Aznar held a four-way telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Aznar promised Spain, a non-permanent Security Council member, would play an active role in maintaining international peace and fighting against terrorism.
Bush said he hopes Spain would help win over skeptics.
(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)
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