Ople sees war in Iraq ‘in matter of days’

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said yesterday that war in Iraq would likely break out "in a matter of days, not weeks," soon after United Nations weapons inspectors submit their report to the UN Security Council on March 15.

Ople said New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff shared his view during bilateral talks in Wellington. The two officials agreed that the best the world could hope for is a "swift and decisive war" with casualties kept to a minimum.

During their talks at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Goff said his government continues to maintain a frigate in the Persian Gulf and has deployed combat forces in Afghanistan.

"We are much more cautious in our position towards Iraq," Goff was quoted in a statement as saying.

Ople said most countries, including the Philippines, agree that the preferred course of action is for a consensus among UN Security Council members on how to handle the Iraq crisis.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to start exploratory talks on a possible air agreement which could lead to direct flights between the Philippines and New Zealand.

Goff said an air agreement, for which negotiations are set to start in Manila in September, would enhance tourism prospects and strengthen bilateral trade.

Ople also invited Goff to visit Manila possible before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) foreign ministers’ meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in October.

At the same time, Wellington conveyed its deepest sympathy for the families of those killed and injured in the recent bombing incident in Davao while expressing its commitment to regional initiatives to combat terrorism.

Speaker Jonathan Hunt, leader of New Zealand’s unicameral legislature called House of Representatives, told Ople that all countries should come together in fighting terrorism.

"It’s an awful thing and we have a great deal of sympathy for the victims of this terrorist attack," Hunt said.

Ople arrived in Wellington from Canberra where he signed an anti-terrorism pact with Australia, one of several similar agreements being lined up with the country’s other allies.

Ople and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which was drafted by Australia following the death of many Australians in Bali, Indonesia on Oct. 12, 2002.

He noted that the Philippines has also proposed a sub-regional mechanism against terrorism and other transnational crimes with other ASEAN countries.

The MOU between the Philippines and Australia involves cooperation in information and intelligence, money laundering and financing of international terrorism, smuggling, illegal trafficking in arms, ammunition and explosives, and defense cooperation relating to international terrorist activities.