Summit may determine future of international community

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 6th Apr 2003

Alliance Party Justice Spokesperson, Stephen Farry, has claimed that through discussing the nature of the post-war arrangements for Iraq tomorrow's Bush-Blair Summit may have huge implications for the future of the United Nations and the international community.

Dr Farry stated:

"It is easy to be cynical about the forthcoming Bush-Blair Summit in Northern Ireland. However, it is a summit that one day may be seen as carrying huge historical significance for the future of the United Nations and the international community.

"The war is being fought on the basis of dubious moral and legal legitimacy. The justifications for war have been changing. The crisis has divided the international community, and undermined the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.

"Now, the key issue to be discussed is the nature of the post-war arrangements for Iraq. What role will the UN have on the ground? What will be methods used to produce a democratic Iraqi government? And most importantly, will the Security Council be used to authorise any agreements?

"When the United States acts multilaterally in defence of common values it can be a major force for good in the world. However, when the United States acts unilaterally fuelled by a cocktail of neo-conservatism and fundamentalism, it only creates further and deeper problems.

"In Belfast tomorrow, Tony Blair has the opportunity to determine which United States emerges from this process.

"He should use his political capital to redirect the United States and to begin to rebuild a united front in the international community."

ENDS.