Peaceful disarmament of Iraq is possible

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday February 06, 2003 15:36 by Flanagan head_office at labour dot ie Ely Place, Dublin 2 6784700

Dublin MEP, Proinsias De Rossa speaking at a conference in Baghdad,calls on the Governments of all Member States of the European Union and the UN Security Council, to use all diplomatic channels to ensure that the UN weapons inspectors are given sufficient time to complete their mandate.

At a Press Conference in Baghdad Proinsias De Rossa, President of the Labour Party, reiterated his strong appeal to the Iraqi authorities to proactively co-operate in a substantial way with the UN weapons inspector. Speaking at the end of a four-day visit to Iraq as part of a delegation of 30 members of the European Parliament, he also called on the Governments of all Member States of the European Union and the UN Security Council, to use all diplomatic channels to ensure that the UN weapons inspectors are given sufficient time - months if necessary - to complete their mandate.

Proinsias De Rossa pointed out that Dr Hans Blix and Kofi Annan have said that given sufficient time and better co-operation by the Iraqi authorities, they believe a peaceful disarmament of Iraq can be achieved.

"In the light of Europe's history I cannot believe that any country would go to war when a peaceful solution is still possible."

Referring to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement to the UN Security Council yesterday Proinsias De Rossa said it was imperative that all the information he claims to have with regard to Iraqi weapons programmes should be made available to the UN Inspectors so that they can check out its validity.

"Leaving aside the theatrics of Colin Powell's presentation, the substance of his claims are insufficient grounds for immediately plunging the Middle East into even greater turmoil."

Having spoken to ordinary Iraqis as well as doctors and international aid organisations, including the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Proinsias De Rossa said that any bombing of Iraqi cities, such as appears to be planned, would cause the collapse of the health, sanitation and food distribution systems with devastating humanitarian consequences.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights informed the delegation that they have a working figure of 600,000 refugees. Non-Iraqi studies show that half the 24 million population are under 18 and that malnutrition is rife due to the sanctions. Only 30% of Baghdad's sewage plants is operational with 50% of the raw sewage being pumped out untreated into the Tigris river, which supplies drinking water to the 5 million inhabitants of Baghdad. With little purification of water currently taking place there would be a complete collapse of the system if the electricity plants were hit by bombs.

"It is clear from the people we met, formally and informally, that ordinary Iraqi citizens are struggling to survive from day to day. 16 million of the 24 million population are totally dependent on food rations distributed by the Iraqi authorities under the Food for Oil programme.

"This morning the delegation met the spokesperson and director of the UN weapons inspectorate. They pointed out, in reply to questions from me, that no evidence had been established to date that Iraq has anthrax, or the ability to deliver an anthrax bomb. They indicated that it is not their function to establish whether or not there are links between al-Qaeda and the Iraqi regime. They are purely technical arms inspectors. They also expressed interest in a proposal that arose from the delegation that non-Iraqi witnesses could be acceptable during their interviewing of Iraqi scientists and technicians. The insistence of Iraqi scientists and technicians that their interviews with the UN weapons inspectors be witnessed has been identified by Dr Hans Blix as one of the obstacles to the successful completion of their mandate.

"There are grave responsibilities on all sides. The international community, through the United Nations, must do everything possible, not only to avoid war - but to prevent war. As far as the Iraqi authorities are concerned they bear a responsibility to engage positively and proactively with the UN weapons inspectors as the most effective way of avoiding any pretext for war.