Mr President,
It is not difficult to say who is to blame for the crisis between Iraq and the United Nations, which has been such a large part of the entire work of the Security Council during the two years that we have sat at this table.
It is the Government of Iraq that again and again has refused to abide by the clear obligations which a unanimous Security Council has decided upon.
And it is also clear that Iraq has not fulfilled the promise it gave to the Secretary-General only a month ago, to cooperate fully and without conditions with the United Nations weapons inspectors.
This has provided a difficult challenge for the Security Council. Because the question of Iraqi compliance is indeed a matter for this Council to deal with. We, around this table, are responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Council's resolutions. We are the ones who should decide the course of action. And I can state tonight, as I have before, that when Iraq seriously violates its obligations, and when all diplomatic means have been exhausted, my government would even be ready to support a decision in the Council on military action, as a last resort.
But that would be a decision for the Security Council.
Now, without such a decision, military action was taken against Iraq a few hours ago. And these air strikes were carried out just as the members of the Council were meeting in informal consultations, discussing the latest report from UNSCOM on Iraq's cooperation, and also the Secretary-General's letter which he sent to us late last night.
The Secretary-General said earlier tonight that this is a sad day for the UN, and for the world. My government regrets these air attacks, and the consequences they may have for civilians in Iraq. We also regret the fact that the Security Council has been presented with a fait-accompli; that we did not even get a chance to conclude our evaluation of the latest developments, before military action was a fact. And we fear that this will not be of much help in getting the inspections going again.
Because the Council's overriding aim must remain - to rid Iraq of its programs for developing these awful weapons of mass destruction.
Thank you, Mr President.