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]
Many of us were somewhat hopeful when the UK government announced 5 criteria for the future use of economic sanctions, regarding their more 'efficient' targetting at the regime rather than the people (as related in earlier postings by Colin Rowat). Unfortunately, the recent statements by Baroness Symons (Foreign Office minister) in the House of Lords emphasise quite categorically that these criteria do not apply to Iraq. I reprint sections from the debates below; for the whole text, see: http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds99/text/90317-01.htm#90317-01_star1 17March 2.45 p.m. Lord Judd: [....] Can my noble friend assure us that the thinking which the Government have been doing on the application of sanctions can be rapidly applied to the Iraqi situation so that sanctions are targeted on those upon whom they should be targeted so that suffering can be relieved? Does my noble friend further agree that the ultimate test of all we are doing on sanctions is our clear long-term objective for security in the region as a whole? Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, if my noble friend is suggesting that we should relax sanctions against Iraq, I cannot agree with him. Relaxing those sanctions without Iraq having met its obligations would be a serious mistake [......] My noble friend made reference to the review of the sanctions policy which my right honourable friend announced earlier this week. It is true that the Government have been looking at ways of targeting sanctions more against regimes than against some of the innocent people in those countries. But in putting forward those plans my right honourable friend also made clear that he did not believe that it would be possible to have that kind of specific targeting in the case of Iraq. [.....] Lord Kennet: My Lords, in view of the adoption of five new principles which should govern sanctions and which were announced on Monday by my noble friend in a Written Answer to my noble friend Lady David, and in view of the fact that the current sanctions on Iraq breach at least three of those five principles, can my noble friend give any idea as to when she hopes to lift them? Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, as I indicated, the Government have been doing a great deal of work on sanctions policy. We are examining whether policies can be improved so that they punish the regimes of the countries concerned rather than innocent people in those countries. When my right honourable friend published the outcome of the review, he made clear that there would be rare occasions when comprehensive sanctions should be imposed where the behaviour of the target regime justifies the toughest measures. My right honourable friend said that Iraq is one such place. ---------------------------------------- Glen Rangwala The Graduate Attic Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RQ Tel: 44 (0)1223 334535 Fax (shared): 44 (0)1223 334550 Home tel: 44 (0)1223 462187 ---------------------------------------- -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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