Greens join minister’s criticism of Iraq bombing
Greens join minister’s criticism of bombing
19
February 2001
Locke supports Robson's criticism of raid on Iraq
Green Party MP and foreign affairs spokesperson Keith
Locke has supported
Disarmament Minister Matt Robson's
criticism of the US and British air raid
on radar sites
near Bagdad.
"New Zealand should speak out strongly
against the unilateral Anglo-American
attack," said Mr
Locke, "and I applaud Mr Robson for speaking out. We
can't
allow the new United States president to act
unilaterally as some global
sheriff instead of working
with the world community to resolve problems in
a
peaceful manner.
"Foreign Affairs Minister Phil
Goff's response to date has been weak. His
major concern
is the way the attack has divided those countries opposed
to
Saddam Hussein," said Mr Locke.
"He should be
criticising the raids outright as unjustified aggression
and
as a violation of international law. Also, it is
obvious that the air raids
have been counterproductive
with the immediate effect being to strengthen
support for
Saddam among the Iraqi people," he said.
Mr Locke said
that instead of backing off sanctions that have created
great
suffering among ordinary Iraqis, the US and Britain
are upping the ante.
"New Zealand should be at the
forefront of seeking diplomatic solutions
through the
United Nations. Phil Goff must say that further air attacks
on
Iraq are unacceptable," said Mr Locke.
Keith Locke MP: 09 630 0789, 025 528
353
Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 440
090
ENDS