By John Tagliabue for the New York Times.

In a blunt rejection of American impatience toward Baghdad, the leaders of France and Germany said today that they shared common views on Iraq, and that any Security Council resolution for military action would have to await the report of United Nations weapon inspectors.

"War is always the admission of defeat and is always the worst of solutions," President Jacques Chirac of France said. "And hence everything must be done to avoid it."

He added, "France and Germany have a judgment on this crisis that is the same."

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany, appearing with Mr. Chirac at a news conference, said, "We both want a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq, and we will work toward that in close cooperation." On Tuesday, Mr. Schröder expressed his most forceful rejection yet of any war.

The two leaders' remarks took on peculiar weight since France and Germany hold the Security Council presidency this month and next...

But the statements of unity by Mr. Chirac and Mr. Schröder vividly illustrated just how far apart the Europeans stand. Britain announced on Monday that it is preparing 30,000 troops for action in Iraq. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair, appearing to side with Washington, stated that fresh intelligence indicated that the escalation of armed force in the Persian Gulf was undermining the rule of Saddam Hussein...

Late Tuesday, Mr. Schröder made his most resolute statement to date of opposition to any resolution for war. At a local election rally of his Social Democratic Party in the German city of Goslar, Mr. Schröder said, "I have told, in particular, our French friends, but others as well, and I am going a step further in what I say here and now: do not reckon with Germany approving a resolution authorizing war. Do not reckon with that."

In his remarks today, Mr. Chirac did not go that far.

But Mr. Chirac said the common view of Paris and Berlin was "grounded in two ideas: the first is that any decision belongs to the Security Council, and to it alone, expressing itself after having heard the report of the inspectors in conformity with the pertinent resolutions approved by the council."

The second, he said, was that "war is always the admission of defeat and is always the worst of solutions. And hence everything must be done to avoid it."

..Now, the French-German understanding is feeling some possible strains with the addition of 10 additional members to the European Union, along with the discussions taking place in Brussels to craft a kind of constitution for the enlarged union.

For the French, the confrontation with Iraq appears to afford Paris the opportunity to revive a strong French-German bond as the basis for a more vigorously assertive European foreign policy. With the question of Iraq welding the ties between Washington and London even more closely, the French appear to have a sense of urgency.

Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/22/international/22CND_EURO.html?pagewanted=all&position=top

French and German Leaders Jointly Oppose Iraqi War Moves
By John Tagliabue
New York Times

Wednesday 22 January 2003

PARIS, Jan. 22 -- In a blunt rejection of American impatience toward Baghdad, the leaders of France and Germany said today that they shared common views on Iraq, and that any Security Council resolution for military action would have to await the report of United Nations weapon inspectors.

"War is always the admission of defeat and is always the worst of solutions," President Jacques Chirac of France said. "And hence everything must be done to avoid it."

He added, "France and Germany have a judgment on this crisis that is the same."

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany, appearing with Mr. Chirac at a news conference, said, "We both want a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq, and we will work toward that in close cooperation." On Tuesday, Mr. Schröder expressed his most forceful rejection yet of any war.

The two leaders' remarks took on peculiar weight since France and Germany hold the Security Council presidency this month and next.

Mr. Chirac and Mr. Schröder were speaking at daylong ceremonies in the French capital and at nearby Versailles that marked the 40th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty of French-German cooperation and that were aimed at setting the agenda for new stages of European integration.

A catalog published today listing areas in which both countries seek closer cooperation included a pledge that they would "be attentive to adopt common positions in international bodies, including the Security Council" of the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, said France would seek the agreement of other European countries, including Britain, to oppose American pressure for military action before there was a clear signal from the weapons inspectors and agreement by the Security Council.

Earlier, Mr. de Villepin refused to rule out the possibility that France would use its veto power if the United States pressed later this month for a Security Council resolution authorizing a war in Iraq.

But the statements of unity by Mr. Chirac and Mr. Schröder vividly illustrated just how far apart the Europeans stand. Britain announced on Monday that it is preparing 30,000 troops for action in Iraq. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair, appearing to side with Washington, stated that fresh intelligence indicated that the escalation of armed force in the Persian Gulf was undermining the rule of Saddam Hussein.

The show of unity by France and Germany reflected the determination of the French -- who hold the Security Council presidency this month -- to prevent the Bush administration from forcing the issue of Iraqi compliance in the council later in January. Mr. Chirac said that "as regards this common position," France and Germany -- which holds the Security Council presidency in February -- were "entirely coordinated and in permanent contact every day."

Late Tuesday, Mr. Schröder made his most resolute statement to date of opposition to any resolution for war. At a local election rally of his Social Democratic Party in the German city of Goslar, Mr. Schröder said, "I have told, in particular, our French friends, but others as well, and I am going a step further in what I say here and now: do not reckon with Germany approving a resolution authorizing war. Do not reckon with that."

In his remarks today, Mr. Chirac did not go that far.

But Mr. Chirac said the common view of Paris and Berlin was "grounded in two ideas: the first is that any decision belongs to the Security Council, and to it alone, expressing itself after having heard the report of the inspectors in conformity with the pertinent resolutions approved by the council."

The second, he said, was that "war is always the admission of defeat and is always the worst of solutions. And hence everything must be done to avoid it."

Mr. Schröder, asked whether he had anything to add, replied with one word: "No."

Opinion polls across Europe indicate that opposition to the use of force against Iraq is widespread. Antiwar demonstrators have taken to the streets repeatedly in numerous European cities, with marchers silently or loudly objecting to America's threats to use its military might against Baghdad.

The two leaders gave their views at ceremonies aimed at reassuring each other, as well as their European partners, that their countries still see their destines intertwined and that the world can expect them to speak with one voice.

Early in 1963, with the wounds of World War II still raw, President Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer met in the Élysée Palace, the seat of French presidents, to sign a treaty that President de Gaulle predicted would gradually end "centuries of rivalry."

During much of the cold war, while West Germany served as the motor of European economic growth, it bowed to the political leadership of France, a nuclear power and permanent member of the Security Council. With the collapse of communism and German unification, Paris initially harbored concern over possible German domination.

But in recent years, Germany has been struggling to overhaul its nearly inflexible economy, while the French have better mastered the challenges of globalization and all but replaced the Germans as the engines of European growth.

Now, the French-German understanding is feeling some possible strains with the addition of 10 additional members to the European Union, along with the discussions taking place in Brussels to craft a kind of constitution for the enlarged union.

For the French, the confrontation with Iraq appears to afford Paris the opportunity to revive a strong French-German bond as the basis for a more vigorously assertive European foreign policy. With the question of Iraq welding the ties between Washington and London even more closely, the French appear to have a sense of urgency.

"Passing from 15 to 25 members, the European Union is not only in danger of being diluted into a free trade zone," Charles Lambroschini, chief editorialist of the French daily Le Figaro, wrote today. "It risks being transformed into a simple protectorate of the United States."

In their list of areas for cooperation, both governments proposed such goals as allowing French and German citizens joint nationality, holding joint cabinet meetings, intensifying military cooperation and having joint French-German embassies in third countries.