From: Marc-Oliver Pahl (info@mopahl.de)
Date: Thu Jan 30 2003 - 11:42:56 CET
And the EU shall fall apart?
With these kind of leaders Europe
will become a Banana republic sooner or later.
MOP
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Europe and America must stand united
In: The Times, London, January 30, 2003
The real bond between the United States and Europe is the values we share: democracy, individual
freedom, human rights and the Rule of Law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who sailed
from Europe to help create the USA. Today they are under greater threat than ever.
The attacks of 11 September showed just how far terrorists — the enemies of our common values — are
prepared to go to destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of us. In standing firm in
defence of these principles, the governments and people of the United States and Europe have amply
demonstrated the strength of their convictions. Today more than ever, the transatlantic bond is a
guarantee of our freedom.
We in Europe have a relationship with the United States which has stood the test of time. Thanks in
large part to American bravery, generosity and far-sightedness, Europe was set free from the two
forms of tyranny that devastated our continent in the 20th century: Nazism and Communism. Thanks,
too, to the continued cooperation between Europe and the United States we have managed to guarantee
peace and freedom on our continent. The transatlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the
current Iraqi regime’s persistent attempts to threaten world security.
In today’s world, more than ever before, it is vital that we preserve that unity and cohesion. We
know that success in the day-to-day battle against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction demands unwavering determination and firm international cohesion on the part of all
countries for whom freedom is precious.
The Iraqi regime and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world security.
This danger has been explicitly recognised by the United Nations. All of us are bound by Security
Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously. We Europeans have since reiterated our
backing for Resolution 1441, our wish to pursue the UN route and our support for the Security
Council, at the Prague Nato Summit and the Copenhagen European Council.
In doing so, we sent a clear, firm and unequivocal message that we would rid the world of the danger
posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. We must remain united in insisting that his
regime is disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are
our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity.
The combination of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is a threat of incalculable
consequences. It is one at which all of us should feel concerned. Resolution 1441 is Saddam
Hussein’s last chance to disarm using peaceful means. The opportunity to avoid greater confrontation
rests with him. Sadly this week the UN weapons inspectors have confirmed that his long-established
pattern of deception, denial and non-compliance with UN Security Council resolutions is continuing.
Europe has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. Indeed, they are the first victims of Iraq’s current
brutal regime. Our goal is to safeguard world peace and security by ensuring that this regime gives
up its weapons of mass destruction. Our governments have a common responsibility to face this
threat. Failure to do so would be nothing less than negligent to our own citizens and to the wider
world.
The United Nations Charter charges the Security Council with the task of preserving international
peace and security. To do so, the Security Council must maintain its credibility by ensuring full
compliance with its resolutions. We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those
Resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world
peace will suffer as a result.
We are confident that the Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.
José María Aznar, Spain
José Manuel Durão Barroso, Portugal
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy
Tony Blair, United Kingdom
Václav Havel, Czech Republic
Peter Medgyessy, Hungary
Leszek Miller, Poland
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark
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