Brussels, 05/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Commenting on the visit by nine MEPs to the New York United Nations headquarters in order to discuss the crisis in Iraq, Elmar Brok told the press that he "feared the worse". In his view, it is unlikely that the visit to Iraq, on 8 February, by Hans Blix, the Head of the UN weapons inspection team, will bring about evidence of Saddam Hussein's will to cooperate. "I have the feeling that we expect a miracle, that Saddam Hussein will be overcome by the Holy Spirit", Philippe Morillon, a member of the parliamentary delegation, told the press. When there is no other solution, "action on the basis of a new resolution seems inevitable", General Morillon said. He believes the credibility of the United Nations is at stake.
The two MEPs consider there is no doubt that the "burden of proof" is up to Iraq, which must demonstrate that it has effectively disarmed and that it is actively cooperating with the inspection mission. "Explanations are lacking with regards intermediary stocks, and there are contradictions that have not been dissipated", Elmar Brok noted.
During a meeting with a deputy US representative at the United Nations, James Cunningham, the MEPs urged for a second United Nations Security Council resolution before taking any form of military action. The United States considers that a new resolution by the United Nations is not legally necessary, though it may be politically necessary, Elmar Brok said. It would appear from the meeting that "President Bush does not want to be obliged to go through the Security Council before intervening, but that he is aware he needs to legitimise his action through the Security Council", General Morillon said for his part.
The parliamentary delegation attempted to defend European unity. In New York, "the nine MEPs spoke with a single voice", Elmar Brok said. "The aim is to show that Europe is not as divided as it might seem", Philippe Morillon said. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, regretted that "the European Union is not speaking with a single voice" and insisted that it should "play a role at the United Nations", Elmar Brok reported. The MEP is nonetheless "filled with fear" at the lack of total agreement between the four European members of the United Nations Security Council: "two countries want to participate in military action, one if fighting for the adoption of a new resolution, the last has been fighting against the war for months". It is all the more necessary to have a European common position following the letter by the "Eight" European countries backing the United States, said Mr. Brok, deploring the unilateralism of the German Chancellery. For General Morillon, "the only one on the fringes is Schroeder".
The two MEPs nevertheless did not hide differences within the European Parliament itself, regretting the sending of a delegation of 33 MEPs (GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA, PES and EDD) to Iraq. Kofi Annan and Hans Blix fear that this is not the right message to send to Saddam Hussein …. And it's easy to see that the delegation is being led by the nose", exclaimed Elmar Brok. He fears that the goals of the visit should be deformed to appear like support for Saddam. The EP delegation in Baghdad "carries a message that does not correspond to reality, which is counterproductive", considers Philippe Morillon. The Secretary General of the United Nations dissuaded the EP from sending a delegation to Iraq, except if it can be sure of meeting Saddam Hussein. The idea of such a visit should be raised on Thursday by the Conference of Presidents of the Political Groups of Parliament, said Elmar Brok.