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The Toronto Star
www.thestar.ca
Mar. 5, 2003. 01:00 AM
Castro believes war `will happen'
Cuban leader makes brief stop in B.C. Says chance of peace in Iraq `remote'
GREG JOYCE
CANADIAN PRESS
RICHMOND, B.C.�There's only a remote chance of avoiding a U.S.-led war in Iraq, despite that country's effort to destroy its illegal missiles, Cuban President Fidel Castro said yesterday .
"Ninety-nine people out of 100, when you ask them, believe that this will happen," Castro said during a refuelling stopover, en route to Cuba from Japan after an 11-day Asian tour.
"However, nothing is impossible and perhaps there is still the remotest possibility that it would not happen."
Castro, 76, wearing a long, black winter overcoat and scarf, spoke to a throng of reporters for about 10 minutes in the lobby of a hotel near the Vancouver-area airport before returning to his plane.
Iraq's recent decision to destroy its al Samoud 2 missiles, deemed to contravene U.N. disarmament rules, "is a step in the right direction," he said, speaking through an interpreter.
Castro also expressed misgivings about the so-called Canadian compromise.
The proposal suggests Iraq be given until the end of March to complete a list of key remaining disarmament tasks identified by U.N. weapons inspectors. The U.N. Security Council would then be asked to vote on whether Iraq was complying with its obligations.
"I would not be able to give you a definitive answer about that ... some people don't agree with that formula because some people tend to believe that such a formula brings closer the dangers of a war."
Castro said he was returning home after a conference with important world leaders and nobody wants the war.
"I believe that it would even be convenient for the United States to avoid such a war, in such a way that is acceptable to all the parties involved."
During his Asian tour, Castro delivered a speech in Malaysia, criticizing the U.S. for trying to coerce the world into backing an "unnecessary" attack on Iraq.
The Toronto Star
www.thestar.ca
Mar. 5, 2003. 01:00 AM
Castro believes war `will happen'
Cuban leader makes brief stop in B.C. Says chance of peace in Iraq `remote'
GREG JOYCE
CANADIAN PRESS
RICHMOND, B.C.�There's only a remote chance of avoiding a U.S.-led war in Iraq, despite that country's effort to destroy its illegal missiles, Cuban President Fidel Castro said yesterday .
"Ninety-nine people out of 100, when you ask them, believe that this will happen," Castro said during a refuelling stopover, en route to Cuba from Japan after an 11-day Asian tour.
"However, nothing is impossible and perhaps there is still the remotest possibility that it would not happen."
Castro, 76, wearing a long, black winter overcoat and scarf, spoke to a throng of reporters for about 10 minutes in the lobby of a hotel near the Vancouver-area airport before returning to his plane.
Iraq's recent decision to destroy its al Samoud 2 missiles, deemed to contravene U.N. disarmament rules, "is a step in the right direction," he said, speaking through an interpreter.
Castro also expressed misgivings about the so-called Canadian compromise.
The proposal suggests Iraq be given until the end of March to complete a list of key remaining disarmament tasks identified by U.N. weapons inspectors. The U.N. Security Council would then be asked to vote on whether Iraq was complying with its obligations.
"I would not be able to give you a definitive answer about that ... some people don't agree with that formula because some people tend to believe that such a formula brings closer the dangers of a war."
Castro said he was returning home after a conference with important world leaders and nobody wants the war.
"I believe that it would even be convenient for the United States to avoid such a war, in such a way that is acceptable to all the parties involved."
During his Asian tour, Castro delivered a speech in Malaysia, criticizing the U.S. for trying to coerce the world into backing an "unnecessary" attack on Iraq.
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