Saturday

9th Dec 2023

MEP provides evidence against Iraq

A European member of Parliament may have provided UN weapons inspectors with fresh evidence that Iraq has materials which could be used to create weapons of mass destruction.

Member of an official Parliamentary delegation visiting the UN in New York and possibly later going to Iraq, Baroness Nicholson - a Liberal democrat MEP - has reportedly delivered evidence to UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix which has come from Iraq in the past few days and is alleged to be new.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Baroness Nicholson told reporters, "The evidence I gave to Dr Blix identified at least two places where weapons of mass destruction materials are stored, as my informant told me, places that have not been identified before, and other associated material."

The UN are not yet ready to comment on the utility or importance of the information although it is expected that weapons inspectors will now search the sites.

Ms. Nicholson, the vice-chair of the Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, is due to travel to Iraq along with the rest of the official delegation from the European Parliament if the go-ahead is given over the next few days. According to one of Saddam Hussein advisors, she can receive a warm welcome in Baghdad.

"We welcome anybody who claims that he has evidence that we are hiding something or attempting something proscribed," said Amer Saadi.

Head of the visiting delegation, Elmar Brok, German Christian Democrat MEP has stated that they will report their findings to the European Parliament on their return and weighed in with his own contribution to the debate saying "Iraqi authorities would have to bear the responsibility for war if they fail to fully co-operate with UN arms inspectors."

Analysis

Tense EU-China summit showdown unlikely to bear fruit

EU leaders will meet their Chinese counterparts in Beijing for the first face-to-face summit since 2019. Their agenda includes trade imbalances, economic security, Ukraine and human rights — what can be expected by the end of 48 hours of talks?

Afghanistan is a 'forever emergency,' says UN head

Afghanistan is a "forever emergency" rendered worse by an isolated country intent on dismantling human rights, says UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representative for the country, Leonard Zulu.

Latest News

  1. How Moldova is trying to control tuberculosis
  2. Many problems to solve in Dubai — honesty about them is good
  3. Sudanese fleeing violence find no haven in Egypt or EU
  4. How should EU reform the humanitarian aid system?
  5. EU suggests visa-bans on Israeli settlers, following US example
  6. EU ministers prepare for all-night fiscal debate
  7. Spain's Nadia Calviño backed to be EIB's first female chief
  8. Is there hope for the EU and eurozone?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us