UNITED NATIONS: US AMBASSADOR JOHN NEGROPONTE WALKS OUT OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL SESSION IN PROTEST OVER IRAQI AMBASSADOR SPEECH

Record ID: 645924

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: US AMBASSADOR JOHN NEGROPONTE WALKS OUT OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL SESSION IN PROTEST OVER IRAQI AMBASSADOR SPEECH
  • Date: 27th March 2003
  • Summary: (W7) UNITED NATIONS (MARCH 27, 2003) (REUTERS) WIDE OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: UNITED NATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflict,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA68KCMVIWEA9WIKKMCWZROHF0G
  • Story Text: A fiery speech by Iraq's U.N Ambassador to the Security Council in New York has prompted the U.S envoy to walk-out of the chamber in protest.
    Washington's U.N. ambassador walked out of a Security Council debate on Iraq on Thursday (March 27) after Baghdad's ambassador said the United States and Britain wanted to exterminate the Iraqi people.
    Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Aldouri also jeered at U.S expectations that invading troops would be welcomed as liberators by Iraqi civilians.
    Aldouri told the Council "the United States and the U.K were hoodwinked when they were told that the Iraqi people will receive them with flowers and hugs and ululation's and the children and their mothers will come and rejoice at the coming of the U.S forces."
    As he continued his angry, defiant speech, U.S ambassador John Negroponte walked out of the chamber in protest.
    Negroponte told reporters "I did sit through quite a long part of what he had to say, but I think I'd heard enough after a certain amount of time" adding "I didn't hear anything new in what he had to say and of course can't accept any of the preposterous allegations he put forward."
    The incident took place at the close of a two-day emergency session of the 15-nation council. At the meeting both the U.S and U.K defended the war after many nations criticised the fact that military action was launched without the backing of the Security Council.
    British ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said the U.K still views the U.N as vital in Iraq, saying it will have an important role to play in rebuilding Iraqi society in the event that the current Iraqi government is ousted.
    Greenstock said, "the United Kingdom is clear that the United Nations must take a central role in the future of Iraq.
    The Prime Minister will meet the Secretary General at United Nations headquarters today to discuss precisely that."
    British Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to discuss post-war Iraq with U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York at 1800 (est) during a scheduled hour and a half long meeting.
    Despite international consensus on providing humanitarian assistance to Iraqi civilians as soon as possible, the Security Council still has a long way to go before divisions over the legality of the war are healed.
    Russia's ambassador Sergey Lavrov, lashed out at the U.S led war, declaring, "An unprovoked military action has been undertaken, in violation of international law and in circumvention of the charter of our organisation, has been taken against Iraq a sovereign state and member of the United Nations, the toll of casualties and destruction is growing there, is a looming threat of a humanitarian, economic and ecological disaster."
    France defended its staunch opposition to the war, and demanded that the U.N take a central role in overseeing post-war Iraq. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said, "it must help the Iraqi people to regain mastery over their destiny and to chose their own future. Faithful to these principles France will continue to act to see to it that crises threatening international peace and security find fair solution within the context of collective action, that is in the context of the United Nations."
    Germany pleaded for divisions and finger pointing to be put to one side so that work can progress on providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said,
    "this is not the time for accusations or appointing blame, our focus should be now on the future and on the immediate challenges for the international community."
    Germany currently chairs the committee overseeing the suspended oil-for-food programme, which allows Iraq to buy humanitarian supplies with oil revenues. The programme was halted a few days before the war began.
    The Security Council is due to vote on a new resolution this week authorising its resumption under the control of Secretary General Kofi Annan.
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