Strasbourg, 12/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference on Wednesday on the fringe of the plenary session in Strasbourg, French Communist Francis Wurtz, and Belgian Green Paul Lannoye, Greek Socialist Myrsini Zorba and Denmark's EDD member Ulla Sanbaek announced that the delegation of 31 MEPs from 11 Member States and 4 political groups that went to Iraq from 2 to 6 February were now to go to the United States. This trip, which should occur towards the end of the month, or at latest early March, will be in two stages: New York for talks in the United Nations and Washington where the MEPs would like to meet members of Congress committed against the war, as well as representatives of co-ordination movements against war in the United States. It is a question of "bringing to life another concept of transatlantic relations than those put forward by a foursome of heads of European governments", said Wurtz.
This group of MEPs has also taken the initiative of re-launching an appeal for peace signed by 110 MEPs in December last. Mr. Lannoye explained that it was a question of opening up this appeal to national parliamentarians in Europe. The appeal calls on the members of the United Nations to: - prevent war in Iraq; - negotiate a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East; - promote worldwide disarmament; - enhance the United Nations capabilities in conflict prevention and non-violent resolution of conflicts.