The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
533.
The European
Council reiterated its:
“… full
support for the … work of the UN inspectors. They must be given
the
time and
resources that the UN Security Council believes they need.
However,
inspections
cannot continue indefinitely in the absence of full Iraqi
co-operation. This
must
include the provision of all the additional and specific
information on the issues
that have
been raised in the inspector’s reports.
“Baghdad
should have no illusions … The Iraqi regime alone will be
responsible for
the
consequences if it continues to flout the will of the international
community and
does not
take this last chance.”
534.
The European
Council would “work with Arab countries and The League of
Arab
Nations …
to bring home to Saddam Hussein the extreme danger of
miscalculation”.
It also
reiterated “its firm belief in the need to invigorate the peace
process in the
Middle East
and to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
535.
The European
Council concluded:
“The unity
of the international community is vital in dealing with these
problems.
We are
committed to working with all our partners, especially the United
States, for
the
disarmament of Iraq, for peace and stability in the region and for
a decent future
for all its
people.”
536.
The UK had
argued that the extraordinary meeting of the Council should
have
been
extended to include Accession Partners and candidates to allow them
to contribute
fully to
the debate.
537.
After the
Council, Mr Blair wrote to the Heads of State and Government
of
the Accession
Partners and candidates setting out his impressions of the
meeting.
The letter concluded:
“… it is
essential that we keep the focus on Iraq and its obligation to
disarm.
This is a defining
moment for the multilateral system. It calls for unity
and
unwavering
determination on the part of the international community
and,
in particular,
for solidarity between Europe and the United States
…”147
538.
The Partners
and candidates subsequently agreed a statement
supporting
the outcome
of the Council.148
147
Telegram 7
FCO London to Budapest, 18 February 2003, ‘Prime Minister’s Letter
to Accession Partners
and
Candidates’.
148
Telegram
181 UKREP Brussels to FCO London, 18 February 2003, ‘Special
European Council:
Accession
Partners and Candidates’.
276