3.7 |
Development of UK strategy and options, 1 February to 7 March
2003
1024.
Discussions
between experts on the tactics for the Security Council
discussion
on 7 March
had agreed the need to pose questions to Dr Blix and that
“more material
drawing out
key points from the clusters document” was needed:
“We could
and should use it to illustrate just how much the Iraq has not
done
with
respect to inspections. We should also highlight the huge gaps in
knowledge
as an
illustration that we could not benchmark, nor define key tasks,
without
Iraqi co‑operation.”
1025.
Sir Jeremy
provided two alternative formulations for the draft
resolution
in a separate
telegram.321
1026.
Mr Blair
and Mr Straw agreed that, in the Security Council
meeting
on 7 March,
the UK would:
•
explore
additions to the draft resolution;
•
express
outrage over the lack of Iraqi co-operation;
•
pose tough
questions to Dr Blix; and
•
demand the
publication of the UNMOVIC “clusters” document.
1027.
In a meeting
on the morning of 6 March, Mr Blair agreed that Mr Straw
should
explore
additions to the draft resolution, including ultimatum language,
exile and the UN
role in
post-conflict humanitarian assistance, with Secretary Powell and
others in New
1028.
Mr Rycroft
recorded that:
•
Subject to
the views of Chile and Mexico, Mr Straw “should stick to
our
preference
for a period of ten days between the passage of the
resolution
and the
expiry of the ultimatum”.
•
Mr Straw
should see Dr Blix to “insist that the clusters document is
published
on 7
March”.
•
The UK
“should express outrage over the lack of Iraqi
co-operation”.
•
Mr Straw
would “put tough questions” to Dr Blix.
•
Mr Straw
would warn Mr Annan “of the consequences for the UN if our
draft
resolution
is not passed”.
•
Mr Blair
would speak to Presidents Lagos and Putin later that day;
and
to President
Chirac after the Security Council debate.
1029.
Mr Campbell
wrote: “we needed to get out the idea that we wanted the
clusters
document
out there, also the sense that Blix was just inhaling the politics
in all this.
We agreed
we needed to publish a version of the clusters document which would
help
321
Telegram
354 UKMIS New York to FCO London, 6 March 2003, ‘Iraq: 5
March’.
322
Letter
Rycroft to McDonald, 6 March 2003, ‘Iraq’.
363