Brussels, 15/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday, the European Union welcomed the capture of Saddam Hussein. In an official statement, High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana said: "This is a very important day for the people of Iraq. The capture of Saddam Hussein should contribute to the stability of the country and to accelerating its reconstruction and democratisation".
The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, also hoped the arrest of the former Iraqi president would make a decisive contribution to peace in Iraq and to the international fight against terrorism. It is the "normal and just" end of all dictators, he added.
In a Declaration on behalf of the European Union, the Italian Presidency affirms: "The EU welcomes the capture of Saddam Hussein as a crucial further step towards peace, stability and democracy in Iraq and in the region. He should now be judged in a fair trial, according to the rule of law, so that justice be done. The Union stresses the need that after this important development the political process in Iraq moves forward, with the widest popular participation, towards an accelerated transfer of sovereignty to a transitional Iraqi government and the establishment of conditions for economic and social reconstruction and development in the country".
European Council President Silvio Berlusconi, whom President Bush had phoned to inform of the capture, immediately told the newspaper, Il Foglio, that he had "exulted" in the news. He went on to add: "I thought of words such as peace and reconciliation, democracy and development. I thought of Iraq but also of Palestine and Israel". "Now we have found the weapon of mass destruction, we can and we must turn the page", Mr Berlusconi said, considering that the whole European Union and Russia should be able to take part in the effort to rebuild Iraq. EU Council President Franco Frattini delighted in the fall of a dictator who had given "great support to terrorism".