3.7 |
Development of UK strategy and options, 1 February to 7 March
2003
Did
Mr Straw’s judgement that Iraq is in material breach mean the
UK is taking the
issue to
the Council under paragraph 4 of the resolution and “going for a
second
resolution
authorising military action”?
•
“The Council,
through its meetings last week, and in future meetings
such
as those
scheduled for 5 and 14 February, is continuously assessing
Iraq’s
compliance.”
•
“Resolution
1441 warned that Iraq would face ‘serious consequences’ if it
failed
to comply.
We expect the Security Council to live up to its
responsibilities.”
How much
time is left?
•
“It is not a
matter of time it is a matter of attitude. And the attitude we’re
getting
from the
Iraqis at the moment is just not sufficient for the eradication of
the
programmes
we know about.”
What chance
is there of Security Council agreement to authorise the use of
force?
•
The unanimous
adoption of resolution 1441 showed the “clear determination”
of
the Council
to ensure Iraq fulfilled its obligations; it was “the toughest
resolution
on Iraq for
years. Iraqis and others should be in no doubt that members of
the
Council are
determined to ensure its implementation.”
UNMOVIC’s
powers/chances of success?
•
The UK
Government was “committed” to giving UNMOVIC the necessary
support.
•
Iraq was
“concealing WMD programmes … including through the use of
mobile
facilities
and hindering inspectors’ efforts to interview
personnel”.
•
“Inspectors
are not meant to be detectives. While they will verify the
accuracy,
completeness
and credibility of Iraq’s declarations, the onus is on Iraq to
show
they have
no WMD. It is up to them to co-operate … and to demonstrate to
the
international
community they that they are committed to eliminating the
threat
of WMD
…”
Timetable?
•
Iraq had
submitted its declaration by the deadline required.
•
Inspections
had started on 27 November, “ahead of the 23 December
deadline
required by
resolution 1441” and Dr Blix and Dr ElBaradei had updated
the
Council 60
days later. They had offered another update on 14
February.
169.
In a speech
on 8 February, Mr Annan stated that Iraq had not yet
satisfied
the
Security Council that it had fully disarmed, and that success in
getting Iraq to
disarm by
inspections would be a great prize.
170.
Mr Annan
also stated that the United Nations had a duty to exhaust all
the
possibilities
for a peaceful settlement before resorting to the use of force; but
if
that time
came the Council “must face up to its
responsibilities”.
209