The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
•
“To re-affirm
that their countries should refrain from taking part in any
military
action
targeting the security, territorial integrity and unity of Iraq or
any other Arab
country.”
•
“To emphasise
solidarity with the Iraqi people … and to stress that it is time to
lift
the
sanctions imposed …”
•
“The Kingdom
of Bahrain to form a Presidential Committee …”
•
“The affairs
of the Arab world and development of its regimes are a thing
decided
by the
peoples in the region in [a] way that suits their national
interests, not by
foreign
interference. In this context the leaders denounce reported
attempts to
impose
changes on the region, interfere in its internal affairs or ignore
its interests
and just
causes.”
•
“To consider
the disarmament of WMDs in Iraq an inseparable part of the
WMD
disarmament
of the region, including Israel …”265
Mr John
Sawers, British Ambassador to Egypt, reported that the proceedings
had
been
broadcast live on Egyptian television and that the statements by
Arab leaders
had
“displayed a more balanced approach than was evident from the
communiqué”.266
Mr Hosni
Mubarak, the Egyptian President, had said that the best way to
solve the
crisis would
be for Iraq to comply with international law represented by the UN;
and
to co‑operate
fully with the inspectors. Mr Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian
President,
had said that
war was inevitable and the region should focus on the aftermath of
war.
Sheikh
Zayed, the Emir of Qatar, had tabled a written suggestion that
Saddam Hussein
should be
given an amnesty and step down.
857.
Sir David
Manning and Mr Scarlett visited Mexico and Chile on 1
and
2 March
to explain the UK’s position to Presidents Fox and Lagos and to
seek
their support.
858.
On 27
February, Mr Gregory Faulkner, British Ambassador to Chile,
reported
Chilean
concerns that the Permanent Members of the Security Council were
not seeking
to resolve
their differences on Iraq.267
The
Chileans thought that passed the buck for
decision-taking
to the non-permanent members, which was unfair. Chile wanted
an
amendment
to the draft resolution asking the inspectors to produce a
conclusive report
within a
specific deadline of a week to 10 days. This would also help
Mexico.
859.
Sir David
Manning was reported to have told President Fox on 1 March
that
Mr Blair
believed that matters had come to a head, UN credibility was
eroding
and
containment was not sustainable.268
Iraq must
come clean now or face the
consequences.
Mr Blair was convinced that Iraq’s WMD had to be dealt with
now or we
would face
a worse situation later. The Iraqi declaration of 7 December 2002
had been
a
disappointment which did not address vital issues such as the
whereabouts of anthrax
265
Telegram 68
Cairo to FCO London, 2 March 2003, ‘Arab League Summit: Final
Communique’.
266
Telegram 67
Cairo to FCO London, 2 March 2003, ‘Arab League
Summit’.
267
Telegram 31
Santiago to FCO London, 27 February 2003,
‘Chile/Iraq’.
268
Telegram 1
Mexico City to Cabinet Office, 1 March 2003, ‘Iraq:
Mexico’.
334