U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will address the World Economic Forum Sunday, in Davos, Switzerland, in what some aides call a "major foreign policy speech." He is expected to make clear that Iraq must disarm or face possible attack.
In Davos, Secretary Powell is stressing American determination to work with the international community to rid Iraq of weapons of destruction. But he said the United Nations must not step back from its solemn responsibilities embodied in Security Council resolution 1441 calling on Baghdad to disarm.
"It is the message that everybody signed up to when they voted unanimously for 1441 and we cannot now start shrinking because the going is getting tough," he added. "The burden is on Iraq. Iraq must comply or it will be made to comply with military force."
Reuters news agency quotes Secretary Powell saying he had extensive talks in Davos with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul on the use of Turkey's air bases. NATO member Turkey has said its limited support for a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq will depend on a separate Security Council resolution backing military action against Baghdad.
Secretary Powell also held talks Saturday with his Australian, Qatari and Swiss counterparts. He downplayed the possibility of holding last-ditch talks with Iraq in Switzerland. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said she offered Switzerland to host last minute U.S.-Iraqi talks to avert a possible war.
