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Dublin MEP to visit Iraq national |
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news report
 Thursday January 30, 2003 14:19 by Cathy Flanagan head_office at labour dot ie 17 Ely Place, Dublin 2 6784700
 Proinsias de Rossa MEP, joins European Parliament peace delegation to Iraq On Sunday (2nd February) Proinsias will leave for Baghdad as part of a cross-party delegation of MEPs which opposes war and supports human rights and democracy for the Iraqi population. When he's in Iraq he will urge proactive cooperation with the UK Inspectors and compliance with all UN Resolutions. He will also visit hospitals and local communities in Baghdad and Basra to assess the huminitarian impact of sanctions and the build-up to a possible war against Iraq. Proinsias spoke in a debate in the European Parliament against unilateral US action in Iraq on January 29th. He called on the European Council, the Irish Government, and all Member State governments, to insist that UN Inspectors be given more time to carry out their mandate. "If the UN Inspectors are given more time, and Iraq co-operates with them proactively, then I believe peaceful disarmament can be achieved." Proinsias was speaking in support of a Resolution tabled by the Party of European Socialists, of which he is a Vice Chair, which insists that military action is not justified and not acceptable without further reference to the United Nations Security Council. The Resolution stresses the importance of complete disarmament of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction under international control and according to relevant United Nations Security Council resolution. "The US intent to go to war and to occupy Iraq, with or without a UN mandate, is in breach of international international law. There is no evidence that would legitimise such a war and the consequences for the Iraqi people, the Middle East region, and for world peace, security and stability would be horrific" Rather than disarming Saddam Hussein a pre-emtive US attack could make weapons of mass destruction more available; cause mass refugee flows of up to 1.5 million people towards Turkey and Iran; lead to the use of chemical weapons against Iraqi civilian targets and the possible torching of Iraqi oilfields which could send global oil prices soaring to as much as $100 a barrel. "Unilateral regime change through military means is unacceptable, and any country advocating it departs from international law and any pretext of being interested in workable solutions to the world's problems." |
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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4Ely place.
Hume St.
a skip and jump to the rump of Dublin?
Once again we need clarification. The PES are opposed to war if its a 'go-it-alone' strategy by the US. That is positive, especially as it will cause the Blair gov some problems with their craven pro-Bush stance.
It follows logically that we should be informed whether the Irish Labour Party is opposed to US led war with Iraq, even if such a war has UN sanction. Ive no doubt this is the position of the local Labour activists but what about the party's official position. What is causing me concern is the repeated failure of Labour members to respond when reasonable, if critical, questions are posed regarding their party's official position on the war.
I guess the best way to answer this is that the "official" Labour Party policy is indeed not necessarily always the same as individual members.
The "official" policy is articulated by the "offical" party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs which is Michael D. Higgins.
Time and again, protest after protest, meeting after meeting, media interview after media interview Michael D. has spoken vehemently against this war.
Could it be any clearer?
I guess so. Labour could actually be officially endorsing the ANTI WAR demo on the 15th. Wait a second it is.
Maybe it could be clearer if the Party Leader Pat Rabitte took a stance on the issue? Well he has and he is "officially" supporting the anti war demo on the 15th as well.
I know I'll regret asking this question, but what more do you want?
You're a two-faced fraud and secretly support Tony Blair and his warmonger friend George Bush, but you've seen public opinion here ain't going that way so, being a gross opportunist you'll jump on the bandwagon.
I just hope you don't come back Frank.