Blair pledges to fight for multilateral solution to Iraq crisis

Date: 10/10/02

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised his fellow Social Democrat leaders that he will play the role of a 'bridge' between the US and the European Union on Iraq to ensure that the Americans accept a multilateral solution to the crisis.

The pledge came at a Downing Street summit yesterday (9 October), seen as taking the pulse of the left in Europe following recent election successes in Germany and Sweden.

Blair's counterparts, including Swedish premier Goran Persson, retorted that a bridge has two pillars and that Blair should make sure that both the European and the American positions over Iraq are considered.

The British prime minister insisted his focus is not on toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein, but on getting rid of weapons of mass destruction. The 20 leaders present made clear they are in favour of the French plan for two resolutions of the United Nations Security Council; the first would call on Baghdad to allow unfettered weapons inspections; the second providing for sanctions in case of non-compliance.

On the future of Europe, the leaders were split over whether the president of the European Commission should be elected by the Parliament. Blair opposes this, on the grounds it would politicise the Commission.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair promised his fellow Social Democrat leaders on 9 October 2002 that he will play the role of a 'bridge' between the US and the European Union on Iraq to ensure that the Americans accept a multilateral solution to the crisis.