The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
171.
Mr Annan
called for unity and warned of the consequences of the use
of
force
without the legitimacy provided by the Security
Council.
172.
In a speech in
Williamsburg, Virginia, on 8 February 2003, Mr Annan
addressed
the
“anxiety, in this country and throughout the world about the
prospect of war in Iraq”.42
He
stated:
•
The UN had
been founded “to save succeeding generations from the
scourge
of war”,
which “We all – and, first and foremost, the leaders of Iraq itself
– have
a duty
to prevent it if we possibly can.”
•
But “there
would be times when force must be met with force”; and there
were
provisions
in the UN Charter “to enable the world community to unite
against
aggression
and defeat it”.
•
Iraq had
“not yet satisfied the Security Council that it has fully disarmed
itself
of weapons
of mass destruction”.
•
That was
“an issue not for any State alone, but for the international
community
as a whole.
When States decide to use force, not in self-defence but to deal
with
broader
threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute
for the
unique
legitimacy provided by the United Nations Security Council. States
and
peoples
around the world attach fundamental importance to such
legitimacy,
and to
the international rule of law.”
•
It was
“vitally important” that the whole international community acted in
a
“united way
– so as to achieve greater security by strengthening, and
not
weakening
or undermining, the multilateral treaties on disarmament and
non-
proliferation.
Only a collective, multilateral approach can effectively curb
the
proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, and make the world a safer
place.”
•
The UN had
“the duty to exhaust all the possibilities of peaceful
settlement,
before
resorting to the use of force”.
•
It was
“thanks in large part to the firm challenge issued by President
Bush – and
the
pressure that followed it – that the inspectors are back in
Iraq”.
•
There was
“total unanimity” that “Iraq must disarm, and must do so
pro-actively”.
•
Success in
getting Iraq to disarm “by effective and credible inspections”
would
be a great
prize.
•
If Iraq
failed to make use of the “last chance” provided in resolution
1441, and
continued
its defiance, the Council would “have to make another grim
choice,
based on
the findings of the inspectors … And when that time comes,
the
Council
must face up to its responsibilities.”
•
In his
experience, the Council met its responsibilities “best and most
effectively
when its
members work in unison. The Council should proceed in a
determined,
reflective
and deliberate manner. Its measures must be seen as firm,
effective,
42
UN Security
Council Press Release, 10 February 2003, Secretary-General
says United Nations has duty
to exhaust all
possibilities of peaceful settlement before resorting to use of
force (SG/SM/8600).
210