MoD Information

Doubt on New UN Resolution

Thu, March 13, 2003

Source: Ananova News

Tony Blair has admitted a second resolution on Iraq is "less likely than at any time before."

Tony Blair has admitted a second resolution on Iraq is "less likely than at any time before." The statement by the Prime Minister has been made to Iain Duncan Smith as the pair held talks at Downing Street about the crisis ahead of what now seems certain to be war in the Gulf.

Following the talks, the Conservative leader refused to say whether Tony Blair had told him of the timing for any military action.

The Tory leader said: "The Prime Minister told me that although they want to try to secure a second resolution in the UN and will continue to do so, that second resolution is now probably less likely than at any time before."

Mr Duncan Smith said the Prime Minister had told him the reason for this was because the French had become "completely intransigent and have literally threatened to veto almost anything that is put forward to the United Nations Security Council", as well as the Russians threatening to use their veto.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "This means that unaligned nations are finding it difficult to make a decision because if it is going to be vetoed anyway, then so what?

"That means essentially military action has become more likely and with that in mind, our thoughts and prayers of everybody and those of my party are with our forces and with their families at this time."

Asked whether he believed there would be any vote at all, the Tory leader said: "If the Americans and the British cannot, or it is unlikely they are going to get, a second resolution, I do not believe that it would go to a vote on that basis.

"There would be little point in going for a vote only to find that it was vetoed at the last moment. That was certainly the impression I got (from the Prime Minister)."

Mr Duncan Smith said he believed the Prime Minister's mood was "resolute."