“In its further deliberations I hope the Council will be aware that it has in UNMOVIC staff a unique body of international experts who owe their allegiance to the United Nations, and who are trained as inspectors in the field of weapons of mass destruction. While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a large department of skilled nuclear inspectors and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has a large staff of skilled chemical weapons inspectors, no other international organizations have trained inspectors in the field of biological weapons and missiles. There is also in the secretariat of UNMOVIC staff familiar with and trained in the analysis, both of discipline specific issues and in the broad questions of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. With increasing attention being devoted to the proliferation of these weapons this capability may be valuable to the Council.”

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin commented afterwards that "For France, war can only be the exception, and collective responsibility the rule. Whatever our aversion for Saddam Hussein's cruel regime, that holds true for Iraq and for all the crises that we will have to confront together.

"The path we mapped out together in the context of Resolution 1441 still exists. In spite of the fact that it has been interrupted today, we know that it will have to resume as soon as possible. ... To those who choose to use force and think they can resolve the world's complexity through swift and preventive action, we offer in contrast determined action over time."

Hopefully, the United Nations will quickly find a way to allow the Inspectors to return to work - but the illegal U.S./U.K. Australian attack has begun.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,918027,00.html

For Hans Blix’s full statement, please go to: http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=434&sID=6

To read Security Council Resolution 1441: http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/Press/Focus/IaeaIraq/iraqres.pdf