Text of Statement on Iraq

guardian ^ | 3/16/03

[knak]

Text of the statement on Iraq that was released Sunday at a summit in the Azores Islands:

STATEMENT OF THE ATLANTIC SUMMIT:

A VISION FOR IRAQ AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE

Iraq's talented people, rich culture, and tremendous potential have been hijacked by Saddam Hussein. His brutal regime has reduced a country with a long and proud history to an international pariah that oppresses its citizens, started two wars of aggression against its neighbors, and still poses a grave threat to the security of its region and the world.

Saddam's defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding the disarmament of his nuclear, chemical, biological, and long-range missile capacity has led to sanctions on Iraq and has undermined the authority of the U.N. For 12 years, the international community has tried to persuade him to disarm and thereby avoid military conflict, most recently through the unanimous adoption of UNSCR 1441. The responsibility is his. If Saddam refuses even now to cooperate fully with the United Nations, he brings on himself the serious consequences foreseen in UNSCR 1441 and previous resolutions.

In these circumstances, we would undertake a solemn obligation to help the Iraqi people build a new Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors. The Iraqi people deserve to be lifted from insecurity and tyranny, and freed to determine for themselves the future of their country. We envisage a unified Iraq with its territorial integrity respected. All the Iraqi people - its rich mix of Sunni and Shiite Arabs, Kurds, Turkomen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and all others - should enjoy freedom, prosperity, and equality in a united country. We will support the Iraqi people's aspirations for a representative government that upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones of democracy.

We will work to prevent and repair damage by Saddam Hussein's regime to the natural resources of Iraq and pledge to protect them as a national asset of and for the Iraqi people. All Iraqis should share the wealth generated by their national economy. We will seek a swift end to international sanctions, and support an international reconstruction program to help Iraq achieve real prosperity and reintegrate into the global community.

We will fight terrorism in all its forms. Iraq must never again be a haven for terrorists of any kind.

In achieving this vision, we plan to work in close partnership with international institutions, including the United Nations; our Allies and partners; and bilateral donors. If conflict occurs, we plan to seek the adoption, on an urgent basis, of new United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq. We will also propose that the Secretary General be given authority, on an interim basis, to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people continue to be met through the Oil for Food program.

Any military presence, should it be necessary, will be temporary and intended to promote security and elimination of weapons of mass destruction; the delivery of humanitarian aid; and the conditions for the reconstruction of Iraq. Our commitment to support the people of Iraq will be for the long term.

We call upon the international community to join with us in helping to realize a better future for the Iraqi people.

[2timothy3.16]

What?????????????????????????

[Green]

I think this is supposed to be the released joint statement of Portugal, US, Britain and Spain.

[knak]

I thinks so. They said something about initiatives that had been given to the reporters?

[sourcery]

The meaning of this statement is clear and unambiguous: Saddam will be removed from power by force of war, said action is imminent, and no contingencies are contemplated wherby said action would fail to occur.

[UncleSamUSA]

This is all well and good but why the promise to go BACK to the stinking UN Security Council for yet another resolution about the "unity" of Iraq and the giving of humanitarian aid.

What the hell does the UN Security Council have to do with the "unity" of Iraq? Is that meant as a threat to the Turks not to invade Iraq and is it also a threat to the Kurds not to declare an independent country? And aren't those matters for militaries on the ground as opposed to the impotent hot-air debating society known as the Security Council?

I just don't get why there has to be an explicit pledge of a UN role after the war before hostilities have even commenced..