The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
“Given this
new world, it is imperative that the international community’s
action be
guided by
principles.
“The first
is respect for law. The keystone of international order, it must
apply under
all
circumstances, but even more so when it is a question of taking the
gravest
decision:
to use force. Only on that condition can force be legitimate, and
only on
that
condition can it restore order and peace.
“Next is
the defence of freedom and justice. We must not compromise on what
is
at the
core of our values. We shall be listened to and heeded only if we
are inspired
by the very
ideals of the United Nations.
“Last is
the spirit of dialogue and tolerance …
“… Never
has the United Nations been so necessary. It is up to this body to
muster
the resolve
to meet these challenges, because the United Nations is the
place
where
international law and legitimacy are founded and because it speaks
on behalf
of
peoples.
“To the
clash of arms … the international community … must respond
…”
997.
Mr Ivanov
stated that, by unanimously adopting resolution 1441 (2002),
the
Security
Council had taken upon itself “the serious responsibility of
completing the
process of
Iraq’s disarmament”. The reports from UNMOVIC and the IAEA
showed
“convincingly
that the international inspectors have succeeded in achieving
tangible
results”.
As a result of the unity of the international community and the
joint pressure on
the Iraqi
authorities, “including a military presence in the region”, Baghdad
had “fulfilled
virtually
every condition set by the inspectors” and had “not put up any kind
of serious
obstacle to
their activities”. If the international inspectors were “given the
opportunity
to continue
their work”, they had “everything they need to complete the process
of
Baghdad’s
peaceful disarmament”.
998.
Mr Ivanov
questioned the “the right to use force against Iraq outside the
Charter
of the
United Nations” and the authority for “the violent overthrow of the
leadership of
a sovereign
State”.
999.
Mr Ivanov
concluded that President Putin had extended “solidarity and
support”
to President
Bush after the attacks on 11 September 2001, and:
“If today
we really had indisputable facts demonstrating that there was a
direct threat
from the
territory of Iraq to the security of the United States of America,
then Russia,
without any
hesitation, would be prepared to use the entire arsenal of
measures
provided
under the United Nations Charter to eliminate such a threat.
However, the
Security
Council today is not in possession of such facts. That is why we
prefer a
political
settlement, relying on the activities of UNMOVIC and the IAEA,
which enjoy
the full
trust of the international community.”
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