Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

12 February 2003

Senators Welcome Support on Iraq from 18 European Countries

("Sense of Congress" resolution sponsored by McCain, Lieberman,
others) (1100)
Republican senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South
Carolina, together with Democratic senators Joe Lieberman of
Connecticut and Evan Bayh of Indiana, are co-sponsoring a "Sense of
the Congress" resolution praising 18 European countries for expressing
their support for the effort to disarm Iraq.
The 18 countries are Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and the United
Kingdom.
In a February 11 press release, Senator McCain said, "The majority of
Europe's democracies have spoken, and their message could not be
clearer: France and Germany do not speak for Europe. Most European
governments support the [United Nations] Security Council's clear
mandate to require Iraq's full disarmament and do not shrink from the
grave responsibilities such a commitment entails. ... We thank this
European majority for standing with us."
Following is the press release, which also includes the text of the
Senate resolution:
(begin text)
Office of Senator John McCain
Washington, D.C.
http://mccain.senate.gov/natoresolution.htm
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
RESOLUTION PRAISES EUROPEAN ALLIES FOR STANDING WITH AMERICA ON IRAQ
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joe Lieberman
(D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) will introduce a
Sense of the Congress resolution praising eighteen European allies for
their support for enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441
which demands Iraqi disarmament.
"The majority of Europe's democracies have spoken, and their message
could not be clearer: France and Germany do not speak for Europe. Most
European governments support the Security Council's clear mandate to
require Iraq's full disarmament and do not shrink from the grave
responsibilities such a commitment entails," McCain said. "Most
European governments understand clearly that if the Security Council
fails to enforce its demands of Iraq, the Council risks impotence and
irrelevance. In short, most European governments behave like allies
that are willing to meet their responsibilities to uphold
international peace and security in defense of our common values. We
thank this European majority for standing with us."
"France and Germany are in the headlines these days -- and they are
important allies of America -- but in this case, the tone and volume
of their dissent is in danger of drowning out the voice of a nearly
united Europe. We must not let that happen." Lieberman said. "Today,
we are proud to stand with the vast majority of Europe, and proud that
the vast majority of Europe stands with us."
(Text of Resolution below)
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
(McCain, Lieberman, Graham and Bayh)
Expressing the Sense of Congress with respect to the support of
eighteen European nations for enforcing U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1441
Whereas on November 8, 2002, the United Nations Security Council
approved Security Council Resolution 1441 under Chapter VII of the
United Nations Charter by a vote of 15-0, giving Iraq "a final
opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations";
Whereas on November 21, 2002, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's
North Atlantic Council unanimously approved a declaration stating, "We
deplore Iraq's failure to comply fully with its obligations which were
imposed as a necessary step to restore international peace and
security and we recall that the Security Council has decided in its
resolution to afford Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its
disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council";
Whereas the North Atlantic Council stated, "NATO Allies stand united
in their commitment to take effective action to assist and support the
efforts of the U.N. to ensure full and immediate compliance by Iraq,
without conditions or restrictions, with UNSCR 1441. We recall that
the Security Council in this resolution has warned Iraq that it will
face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of
its obligations";
Whereas, on January 30, 2003, the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Italy,
Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and the
President of the Czech Republic ("The Eight"), issued a declaration
regarding Security Council Resolution 1441;
Whereas in their declaration, The Eight stated, "The trans-Atlantic
relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's
persistent attempts to threaten world security"; "The Iraqi regime and
its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world
security. This danger has been explicitly recognized by the U.N. All
of us are bound by Security Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted
unanimously";
Whereas The Eight stated, "Resolution 1441 is Saddam Hussein's last
chance to disarm using peaceful means. The opportunity to avoid
greater confrontation rests with him"; "Our governments have a common
responsibility to face this threat"; "[T]he 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";
Whereas on February 5, 2003, the Foreign Ministers of Albania,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania,
Slovakia, and Slovenia ("The Ten") issued a declaration regarding
Security Council Resolution 1441;
Whereas in their declaration, The Ten stated, "[T]he United States
[has] presented compelling evidence to the United Nations Security
Council detailing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs, its
active efforts to deceive U.N. inspectors, and its links to
international terrorism"; "The trans-Atlantic community, of which we
are a part, must stand together to face the threat posed by the nexus
of terrorism and dictators with weapons of mass destruction;"
Whereas The Ten stated, "[I]t has now become clear that Iraq is in
material breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions, including U.N.
Resolution 1441"; "The clear and present danger posed by Saddam
Hussein's regime requires a united response from the community of
democracies. We call upon the U.N. Security Council to take the
necessary and appropriate action in response to Iraq's continuing
threat to international peace and security";
RESOLVED by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that
it is the Sense of the Congress that:
The United States of America welcomes the expression of support from
Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom for Iraq's
full compliance with Security Council Resolution 1441 and their
expression of solidarity with the United States in calling for the
demands of the Security Council for Iraq's full disarmament to be met.
CONTACT: Rebecca Hanks 202/224-2182
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)