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'Operation Iraqi Freedom': A Compilation of Statements & Reaction to the Beginning of Military Operations, March 19/23

• I. 'We Will Accept No Outcome But Victory': Statement by US President George W. Bush, March 19
• II. International Comment & Reaction: The 'Coalition of the Willing'
• III. International Comment & Reaction: Critics, Sceptics & Non-Coalition Supporters
• IV. International and Regional Organisations
• V. Iraqi Leaders & Officials
• VI. The Humanitarian Dimension and the Rules of Law: NGO Comment

IV. International and Regional Organisations

• United Nations
• Arab League
• European Union

United Nations

'Perhaps If We Had Persevered A Little Longer...': Statement by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, March 20

'"My thoughts today are with the Iraqi People' says Secretary-General, pledging UN assistance, support as they face "yet another ordeal"', United Nations Press Release SG/SM/8644, March 20.

Today, despite the best efforts of the international community and the United Nations, war has come to Iraq for the third time in a quarter of a century.

Perhaps if we had persevered a little longer, Iraq could yet have been disarmed peacefully, or - if not - the world could have taken action to solve this problem by a collective decision, endowing it with greater legitimacy, and, therefore, commanding wider support, than is the case now.

But let us not dwell on the divisions of the past. Let us confront the realities of the present, however harsh, and look for ways to forge stronger unity in the future.

My thoughts today are with the Iraqi people, who face yet another ordeal. I hope that all parties will scrupulously observe the requirements of international humanitarian law, and will do everything in their power to shield the civilian population from the grim consequences of war. The United Nations, for its part, will do whatever it can to bring them assistance and support.

Let us hope the future will be much brighter for the Iraqi people than the recent past, and that they will soon have the chance to rebuild their country in peace and freedom, under the rule of law.

Over the past weeks, the peoples of the world have shown what great importance they attach to the legitimacy conveyed by the authority of the United Nations. They have made clear that, in confronting uncertainty and danger, they want to see power harnessed to legitimacy. They want their leaders to come together, in the United Nations, to resolve the problems shared by all humanity.

I will do my utmost to ensure that the United Nations rises to this challenge.

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'I Don't Think It Is Reasonable': Remarks by Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC), March 18

I don't think it is reasonable to close the door to inspections after three and a half months... I think it is unlikely they will [use any chemical or biological weapons they may have]...because I think world opinion, which they study quite a lot, is in large measure feeling that going to war [now] is too early... So there is a fair amount of scepticism about armed action. That scepticism would turn immediately around if they used chemical weapons or biological weapons. My guess is they would not."

Source: Probe for Iraqi weapons should have continued - Blix, UN News Service, March 18.

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Arab League

'I Feel Saddened And Angry': Remarks by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mussa, March 20

It's a sad day for all Arabs that Iraq and its people should be subjected to a military strike which will leave nothing standing and take no account of civilians nor of the whole of Iraq. I feel saddened and angry in the face of this aggression. ... [The United Nations should take] the necessary steps to stop this destructive war...despite having been marginalized when the decision was taken for war...

Source: Iraq today, turn of other states to come - League, Agence France Presse, March 20.

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'Who Gave This Authorisation?': Remarks by Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Said Kamal, March 20

After Iraq, one day, it will be other Arab countries' turn... The question is, for every Arab citizen: who gave the authorisation to Bush to interfere in Iraqi affairs? Who gave this authorisation?

Source: Iraq today, turn of other states to come - League, Agence France Presse, March 20.

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European Union

European Council Joint Statement, March 20

'Spring European Council 2003: Joint Statement of the "15" [Heads of State and Government] on Iraq', Brussels, March 20, 2003'; website of the Greek Presidency of the European Unionhttp://www.eu2003.gr.

With the beginning of the military conflict, we are faced with a new situation. Our hope is that the conflict will end with the minimum loss of human life and suffering. Our common challenges are:

As regards Iraq:

• The EU is committed to the territorial integrity, the sovereignty, the political stability and the full and effective disarmament of Iraq in all its territory, as well as to the respect for the rights of the Iraqi people, including all persons belonging to minorities.
• We believe that the UN must continue to play a central role during and after the current crisis. The UN system has a unique capacity and practical experience in coordinating assistance in post-conflict States. The Security Council should give the United Nations a strong mandate for this mission.
• We urgently need to address the major humanitarian needs that will arise from the conflict. The EU is committed to be actively involved in this field, in accordance with established principles. We support the UN Secretary General's proposal that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people can continue to be met through the "Oil for Food" programme.
• We want to effectively contribute to the conditions allowing all Iraqis to live in freedom, dignity and prosperity under a representative government that will be at peace with its neighbours and an active member of the international community. The Council invites the Commission and the High Representative to explore the means by which the EU might help the Iraqi people to achieve these objectives.

On the regional front:

• We express solidarity with and stand ready to assist those countries that are faced with problems and risks as a result of the conflict, including possible refugee flows. The EU will actively engage in supporting regional stability.
• We call on all countries of the region to refrain from actions that could lead to further instability.
• The countries of the region have also a particular responsibility to prevent acts terrorism.
• We will continue to work actively towards the reinvigoration of the Middle East Peace Process through the immediate publication and implementation of the roadmap as endorsed by the Quartet.
• We will deepen our dialogue and cooperation in all fields with the Arab and the Islamic worlds. We hope that it will soon be possible to use the considerable opportunities offered by the Barcelona Process to good account.

In the international field:

• We reiterate our commitment to the fundamental role of the United Nations in the international system and to the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and stability.
• We are determined to strengthen the capacity of the European Union in the context of the CFSP and the ESDP.
• We remain convinced that we need to strengthen the transatlantic partnership, which remains a fundamental strategic priority for the European Union; to this effect, a sustained dialogue on the new regional and global challenges is necessary.
• We will continue to contribute to the further strengthening of the international coalition against terrorism.
• We will also intensify work for a comprehensive, coherent and effective multilateral policy of the international community to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• The above objectives are interrelated and complementary. They should be pursued in parallel, through coordinated action of all main international players. In this spirit, the restoration of the unity of the international community is an absolute imperative.

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Statement of the Greek President of the European Council, March 22

'Statement of the President of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, Mr. George A. Papandreou [Foreign Minister of Greece], on Iraq, Saturday, March 22, 2003'; Foreign Ministry of Greece, http://www.mfa.gr.

Greece is a country for peace. The EU is a structure that is a structure of peace. Greece is carrying the weight of the EU Presidency and has taken initiatives for peace in recent months and weeks, during the Iraq crisis. And today in our minds - in our hearts - is [the question of] how we can contribute, in this great crisis, to solving the problem of the Iraqi people in the midst of war; to solving the humanitarian problem of those who are suffering directly, whether in Iraq or in the neighborhood of Iraq, as a result of this crisis and this war.

We had a meeting and discussion today with all the competent departments and collaborators, with the political leadership of the Ministry to consider the situation today. We have already announced a plan for humanitarian aid, we are cooperating closely and we call for the cooperation of the rest of the non-governmental organizations to contribute to the confronting of the humanitarian crisis in the coming days. ...

We have also decided to cooperate closely with all the countries of the region, with the Arab League, with the Arab countries, so that we can monitor developments closely. Of course, we will also be cooperating closely with the UN, and within the UN with all the permanent members of the UN Security Council, among which are two EU member states - France and England - and with the US, Russia, China and of course the four EU countries on the Security Council today - France and England as permanent members and Germany and Spain as non-permanent members.

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© 2002 The Acronym Institute.