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STATES OF JERSEY
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WAR AGAINST IRAQ (P.12/2003): AMENDMENT
Presented to the States on 18th February 2003 by the Policy and Resources Committee
STATES GREFFE
WAR AGAINST IRAQ (P.12/2003): AMENDMENT ____________
For the words "without a fresh United Nations mandate, following clear evidence of the need for war" substitute the words "unless sanctioned by the United Nations".
POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
REPORT
The Policy and Resources Committee supports the proposals that the States should be asked to debate the need or otherwise for the proposed use of military force against Iraq and, should such a debate be held and brought to a successful conclusion, that the views of the States Assembly should be transmitted to Her Majesty's Government and that of the United States of America in the manner proposed by Deputy Southern .
However, the Committee believes that the proposition submitted by Deputy Southern is perhaps too narrow in nature in that not only does it call for there being a "fresh United Nations mandate", a line already being pursued by Her Majesty's Government, but also requires such a mandate to be based on there being "clear evidence of the need for war".
The Committee believes that a high level of trust should be maintained in the ability of the United Nations to consider any and all evidence placed before it, much of which it may not be possible to place in the public domain, and to arrive at a just and lawful position on this issue. To do otherwise and to seek to attach pre- conditions as to the grounds upon which such approval for action might be given could be seen as undermining that trust and might be taken to imply that the Island will only support United Nations decisions, if the Island agrees with them.
The Committee believes, therefore, that the basic principle underlying this debate should be whether or not any actions against Iraq, such as the proposed use of military force, should only be taken with the approval of the United Nations and that the application of any caveats to that position should be resisted.
Thus the Committee asks the States Assembly to agree to amend to Deputy Southern 's proposal as indicated, in order that the States can focus on the underlying matter of principle; whether the States will support the United Nations' decisions on whether military action against Iraq should or should not proceed.