The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
'Sad day' for UN and the world: Annan(ABC) United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan says air strikes on Iraq mark "a sad day for the United Nations and for the world". He was speaking ahead ahead of a Security Council meeting to discuss the strikes. "My thoughts tonight are with the people of Iraq and with the 307 United Nations humanitarian workers who remain in the country and with all others whose lives are in danger," Mr Annan said. "It is also a very sad day for me personally. Throughout this year, I have done everything in my power to ensure peaceful compliance with Security Council resolutions and to avert the use of force. "But all this has not been an easy or painless process. It has required patience, determination and the will to seek peace, even when all signs pointed to war. "However daunting the task, the United Nations had to try as long as any hope of peace remained. "I deeply regret that today these efforts have proved insufficient. "What has happened cannot be reversed nor can any of us foresee the future. "All we know is that tomorrow, as yesterday, there will be still an acute need, in Iraq and in the wider region, for both humanitarian relief and healing diplomacy. "In both these tasks, the United Nations will be ready, as ever, to play its part," Mr Annan said. Russian UN envoy Sergei Lavrov requested the meeting of the Security Council. During an earlier meeting, the Security Council seemed divided, with China unhappy about the use of force. That meeting broke up as news of the air strikes broke. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To be removed/added, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk, NOT the whole list. Archived at http://linux.clare.cam.ac.uk/~saw27/casi/discuss.html