[PhiKapMom]

Blair to press Bush to agree U.N. role in Iraq
Reuters | 3/26/03 | Mike Peacock


Posted on 03/26/2003 8:51 AM CST by kattracks


Blair to press Bush to agree U.N. role in Iraq

By Mike Peacock

LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to Washington on Wednesday for a war council with President George W. Bush, insisting that the United Nations must play a central role in post-war Iraq.

But his twin aims of healing a gaping transatlantic rift between America and Europe, and binding the United Nations into the reconstruction of Iraq, represent huge challenges with Washington still smarting at a snub from the Security Council.

Publicly, Blair said he saw no problems.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/876085/posts

Will the real Tony Blair stand up or did he have a call from 1600 Pennyslvania Ave after his first comments about involving the United Nations?

[Miss Marple]

I think you are missing the Reuters slant to the story. They LOVE the UN and will twist anything to match their agenda.

[TLBSHOW]

Before leaving for the U.S. today, Blair said he believed any postconflict Iraqi administration should have the full endorsement of the UN.

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/03/26032003171516.asp

[TLBSHOW]

direct from Blair.........


http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3347.asp

At his latest press conference, Prime Minister Tony Blair said:

'...in addition to pursuing our military campaign with vigour and determination, we are also determined in the wake of military success to bring humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq. The most important humanitarian priority is to restore the operations of the Oil for Food Programme.'

The UN's Oil for Food programme provides over 60 per cent of Iraqis with food, water and medicine, added Mr Blair.

The Prime Minister announced that he would meet President Bush at Camp David, 'to discuss not just the military campaign, but also the diplomatic implications of recent events for the future', and that he would meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York.

He stressed that 'the United Nations must be centrally involved in dealing both with the humanitarian crisis and in helping Iraq rebuild itself once Saddam has gone'.