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Europe and American must stand
united
Full text of a declaration by eight European
leaders
The real bond between the
United States and Europe is the values we share:
democracy, individual freedom, human rights and the Rule
of Law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who
sailed from Europe to help create the USA. Today they
are under greater threat than ever.
The attacks
of 11 September showed just how far terrorists — the
enemies of our common values — are prepared to go to
destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of
us. In standing firm in defense of these principles, the
governments and people of the United States and Europe
have amply demonstrated the strength of their
convictions. Today more than ever, the transatlantic
bond is a guarantee of our freedom.
We in Europe
have a relationship with the United States which has
stood the test of time. Thanks in large part to American
bravery, generosity and far-sightedness, Europe was set
free from the two forms of tyranny that devastated our
continent in the 20th century: Nazism and Communism.
Thanks, too, to the continued cooperation between Europe
and the United States we have managed to guarantee peace
and freedom on our continent. The transatlantic
relationship must not become a casualty of the current
Iraqi regime’s persistent attempts to threaten world
security.
In today’s world, more than ever
before, it is vital that we preserve that unity and
cohesion. We know that success in the day-to-day battle
against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction demands unwavering determination and
firm international cohesion on the part of all countries
for whom freedom is precious.
The Iraqi regime
and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear
threat to world security. This danger has been
explicitly recognized by the United Nations. All of us
are bound by Security Council Resolution 1441, which was
adopted unanimously. We Europeans have since reiterated
our backing for Resolution 1441, our wish to pursue the
UN route and our support for the Security Council, at
the Prague Nato Summit and the Copenhagen European
Council.
In doing so, we sent a clear, firm and
unequivocal message that we would rid the world of the
danger posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass
destruction. We must remain united in insisting that his
regime is disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and
determination of the international community are our
best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength
lies in unity.
The combination of weapons of
mass destruction and terrorism is a threat of
incalculable consequences. It is one at which all of us
should feel concerned. Resolution 1441 is Saddam
Hussein’s last chance to disarm using peaceful means.
The opportunity to avoid greater confrontation rests
with him. Sadly this week the UN weapons inspectors have
confirmed that his long-established pattern of
deception, denial and non-compliance with UN Security
Council resolutions is continuing.
Europe has no
quarrel with the Iraqi people. Indeed, they are the
first victims of Iraq’s current brutal regime. Our goal
is to safeguard world peace and security by ensuring
that this regime gives up its weapons of mass
destruction. Our governments have a common
responsibility to face this threat. Failure to do so
would be nothing less than negligent to our own citizens
and to the wider world.
The United Nations
Charter charges the Security Council with the task of
preserving international peace and security. To do so,
the Security Council must maintain its credibility by
ensuring full compliance with its resolutions. We cannot
allow a dictator to systematically violate those
Resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security
Council will lose its credibility and world peace will
suffer as a result.
We are confident that the
Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.
José María Aznar, Spain
José Manuel
Durão Barroso, Portugal
Silvio Berlusconi,
Italy
Tony Blair, United
Kingdom
Václav Havel, Czech
Republic
Peter Medgyessy,
Hungary
Leszek Miller, Poland
Anders
Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark
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