Monday 24 March 2003
Statement by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the Iraqi conflict to the House of Commons
SNIP
At the European Council, there were of course deep divisions over the coalition action. That is well known. But it is not that all of European opinion is one way.
On the contrary, there was both understanding and support for the British position from many nations represented at the Council and near unanimous endorsement from the 10 accession countries who joined our Council on Friday afternoon.
In any event, whatever disagreements about the conflict itself, Europe came together to set out clearly its wishes and responsibilities in post-conflict Iraq.
The Council agreed the need to be active in the humanitarian field and to
ensure that the oil revenues are held for the Iraqi people by the UN and that the Oil for Food programme continues.
The Council further agreed that the UN Security Council should give the UN a strong mandate for post-conflict Iraq and make sure that the new administration is one that is representative, careful of the human rights of the Iraqi people and allows the people to live at peace inside Iraq and with its neighbours.
http://www.labour.org.uk/tbiraqcommons240303/You're working yourself up into a froth over nothing; note what Blair is saying - he is asking for the
endorsement of the UN for the new administration, not the UN itself to administer it. If it fails to get the endorsement, well, Blair will go along with it anyway.
And Blair knows it won't get that endorsement. The French have blocked the way. This is about silencing Labour MPs more than anything else.
I don't mind the UN playing a role in distributing food; after all, that UNICEF money has to be spent sometime.
Regards, Ivan