Disarmament Documentation

Back to Disarmament Documentation

'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

V. Iraqi Leaders & Officials

'We Call On The United nations To Condemn This Invasion': Statement by Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, March 22

Statement from Naji Sabri, Foreign Minister of Iraq, delivered to the United Nations Security Council and read out on Iraqi television, March 22.

Since the Anglo-American colonial military aggression against Iraq is a threat to international and regional peace and security, we call on the United Nations to condemn this invasion and aggression, move to stop it immediately and unconditionally, and ask US and British aggressors to withdraw their forces immediately outside the borders of the Republic of Iraq. ... Security Council resolutions must be respected and implemented, starting with the lifting of the unjust sanctions against Iraq...[and] disarming the Zionist entity of weapons of mass destruction to create a region without weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East."

Source: Iraq asks United Nations to halt invasion, Reuters, March 22.

Back to the Top of the Page

UN Ambassador Mohamed Aldouri, March 21

[This invasion] is a flagrant material breach of international law, the UN Charter and the Security Council resolutions relevant to Iraq, all of which emphasize Iraqi sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity.

Source: Iraqi UN ambassador blasts UN chief Kofi Annan, Agence France Presse, March 21.

Back to the Top of the Page

Statement by Iraq Mission to the UN, March 20

Yesterday, the United States acted as a terrorist state by attempting to assassinate the leadership of a member state of the United Nations. ... [President Bush has been telling] a bunch of lies [about Iraq]...while it has been clear to all the world that he wants to free the Iraqi oil fields."

Source: Iraq will ask UN to respond to invasion, Associated Press, March 20.

Back to the Top of the Page

Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, March 20

I am carrying my pistol to confirm to you that we are ready to fight the aggressors. American soldiers are nothing but mercenaries and they will be defeated.

Source: Iraq's Aziz puts defection rumors to rest, Associated Press, March 19.

Back to the Top of the Page

© 2002 The Acronym Institute.