Supplementary memorandum from the Rt Hon
Robin Cook MP
Letter from the Rt Hon Robin Cook MP to the Clerk
of the Committee, 3 July 2003
At the hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committee
I undertook to come back to the Committee concerning the letter
of 10 November 1998 signed by Derek Fatchett and Doug Henderson.
I have now had an opportunity to consult the
files and I am grateful to the FOG Records and Historical Department
for their help. We have not found any evidence that the letter
was shown to me for approval. That said, having now had time to
read the letter I find it unexceptional. All the material in it
was already in the public domain and the covering note makes no
attempt to claim that it was from intelligence sources.
I also took the opportunity to refresh my memory
from the files on the confrontation with Iraq in 1998. I would
stress the following point in response to any attempt to draw
parallels with the present situation.
Throughout 1998 we were confronted with determined
efforts by Iraq to end any inspections, culminating in their announcement
of 31 October that they would permit no further site inspections.
The Security Council unanimously denounced the Iraqi ban in inspections
as a "flagrant violation". The threat of military action
forced Iraq to rescind that decision on 14 November, but by December
UNSCOM reported that it was unable to secure the co-operation
they needed to carry out inspections. This was in contrast to
the situation this year when UNMOVIC reported that It was receiving
co-operation at least on the process of inspections, and when
Hans Blix informed the Security Council he could conclude the
remaining disarmament tasks in months. Had we received the same
cooperation in 1998, there would have been no bombing campaign.
I hope this is helpful to the Committee and
I look forward to their Report.
Rt Hon Robin Cook MP
3 July 2003
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