Welcome aboard, Ireland.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 02/18/2003 2:33:48 AM PST by MadIvan
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says Ireland made a significant contribution to the shaping of the agreement reached by the European Union on Iraq.
European leaders have warned Iraq that it faced a 'last chance' to disarm peacefully.
In a strongly worded declaration last night, EU leaders also affirmed solidarity with the US.
"Baghdad should have no illusions. The Iraqi regime alone will be responsible for the consequences if it continues to flout the will of the international community," 15 EU leaders said in a joint declaration.
Bertie Ahern says Ireland's position is very much in line with the rest of the EU.
"There are ongoing differences on whether inspections should continue in the absence of full co-operations, but the Government's position, as set out by the Dept of Foreign Affairs in the Dail last Tuesday, is that inspections should continue for as long as the inspectors feel they are productive. But they will not continue in the face of Iraqi non-compliance," he said.
The Taoiseach is defending the use of Shannon airport by US military on their way to the Gulf.
Ahern says the threat of force is playing a significant part in trying to put pressure on Baghdad to comply with UN resolutions, and he says our actions comply fully with the UN position.
"The military build up is what is getting us where we are now after 12 years and Kofi Annan, as he has said many times, that is totally within the remiss of the Security Council and the efforts to gain peace.
"So our contribution to that, as small as it is, let's be frank about this, it is small, is still well within what is seen as a useful and productive way of trying to get a resolution to this."
Welcome aboard, Ireland.
Regards, Ivan
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