Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-03-12-Speech-3-024"
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"en.20030312.1.3-024"2
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"Mr President, this is a very special day for me in the European Parliament. I have heard speeches from Mr Cohn-Bendit and Mr Le Pen which I consider to be indistinguishable.
Since we last debated the Iraq crisis the stakes have increased. The clear issue remains that Saddam is still playing for time. The United Nations call for disarmament, as set out very clearly and unanimously by Resolution 1441, today continues to be unfulfilled. That is the truth of the situation we face. We recognise that this situation is dangerous and volatile, but let us be clear that it remains dangerous and volatile thanks to the continuing evasion of the Iraqi regime and, sadly, also the gamesmanship of some European governments.
These governments appear to have lost sight of the fundamental issue that is at stake here, which is the very real threat that the regime in Baghdad poses to the peace and security of the Middle East and indeed to the wider world. Even at this late stage let us not forget that Saddam refuses to explain what has happened to the stockpile of chemical weapons, biological weapons and nerve agents that were detected by the UN inspectors in 1998. Unless the democracies of the world are prepared to speak out with a united voice on the need for immediate and unconditional disarmament, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein will continue on his current road of playing cat and mouse with the United Nations on an indefinite basis.
I must say that the events of recent months have also demonstrated two important truths for us here in the European Parliament and for Europe more generally. Firstly, we undermine the unity of NATO at our peril. Some anti-American voices in Europe have been playing out their contempt for all things American, and we may hear more of that in this debate. We have also seen some politicians in Europe who are prepared to weaken NATO and the transatlantic alliance in their aim of developing Europe as some sort of antagonist or counter-weight, rather than as an ally of the United States.
Let me make it clear beyond any doubt, on behalf of the British Conservatives, that we stand resolutely behind NATO as the bedrock of our security and defence. I make no apology for repeating our belief in NATO and the value that we attach to our partnership with the United States. I believe that the actions of France, Germany and Belgium in fomenting division within the Alliance over the crucial issue of Turkey's security are nothing short of deplorable. The coming days will be a test of the will of the international community and of the credibility of the United Nations. But let there be no doubt about this: the responsibility for avoiding war remains squarely with Saddam Hussein and it is up to him to choose peace."@en1
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