Australian Greens International Secretary Deb Foskey released a statement outlining the Global Greens’ position on the likely war in Iraq.

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From: Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown) Ben.oquist@aph.gov.au
Date: Friday, February 14, 2003, 8:02:56 AM
Subject: Greens-Media: [no subject]
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Media Release 14 February, 2003

GLOBAL GREENS STATEMENT

NO TO A WAR IN IRAQ, YES TO A LONGLASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

Australian Greens International Secretary Deb Foskey today released a statement outlining the Global Greens’ position on the likely war in Iraq.

“This statement was agreed to by the Global Greens Coordination Group which was set up at the Global Greens Conference held in Canberra at Easter in 2001. The Greens are the only party with an international network, representing the views of dozens of Greens parties around the world, from Africa, the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

“All Greens parties oppose this war under any conditions and support initiatives such as the French-German peace plan. We believe that the United States’ plans, which Australia supports, will kill many Iraqi civilians who have suffered enough under 12 years of economic sanctions.

“In every country of the world, there is a huge groundswell of opposition to this war. Greens in parliaments everywhere are working with peace-loving people to persuade other parliamentarians to oppose the USA’s preemptive strikes.

“Green parliamentarians will be speaking at mass rallies in cities all around the world on Saturday February 13. In Australia, Greens will be joining rallies in every major city, helping to make these the largest anti-war rallies seen for decades.

“In many European countries, elected Greens are holding their governments to strong anti-war positions. Greens party member, Joschka Fischer, who is the Foreign Minister of Germany, is playing a key role in Germany’s opposition to United States’ plans.

“In the United States, Greens are active in the growing American peace movement, opposing their government’s use of its economic and military power for intimidation and military destruction.

“The Global Greens statement concludes: ‘The Global Greens will oppose war against Iraq with every nonviolent means at our disposal’. And indeed we will,” concluded Ms Foskey.

The Global Greens statement is attached.
For further information, contact Deb Foskey 0413 223 585

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NO TO A WAR IN IRAQ, YES TO A LONGLASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!
GLOBAL GREENS STATEMENT
FEBRUARY 2003

Greens all over the world re-assert their opposition to any armed intervention against Iraq.

The Global Greens continue to condemn the regime of Saddam Hussein, in particular its blatant violation of human rights and the rights of minorities such as the Kurdish people.

The preparedness of the United States, Britain and supporting governments to act unilaterally against Iraq, despite the fact that the United Nations weapons inspectors have been accepted by the Iraq government and are still at work, despite the fact that Iraq has not attacked any country and is not a threat to world and regional peace, is worrying. The control over oil production and distribution in the area should not be the cause of suffering for millions of innocent civilians.

The Global Greens call on all governments in the Security Council of the United Nations to oppose or veto any decision in favour of armed conflict.

The Global Greens support the French-German peace plan for Iraq, to be presented to the United Nations Security Council on 13 February 2003, and call on all governments to support it.

If the United States, Britain and other countries such as Australia attack Iraq without a United Nations mandate, the Global Greens call on all governments to refuse the involvement of their armed forces, and to refuse logistical support such as use of air corridors and harbours.

A war against Iraq will destabilise the whole Middle East region and is contrary to the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Convention. We Greens are convinced that United Nations resolution 1441 can be implemented through means other than military intervention.

The Global Greens welcome the decision of Belgium, Germany and France to veto war preparations by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) in Turkey.

The Global Greens appeal to members of the Security Council not to give the go ahead to any military attack on Iraq.

For more than ten years the implementation of an economic embargo has imposed huge suffering on the Iraqi people while failing to dislodge the government.

The Global Greens call for an immediate end to economic sanctions against Iraq.

Greens all over the world together with citizens who want peace are determined to resist a war in Iraq. We will continue to support and participate in the fast-growing worldwide movement against such a war.

The Global Greens will oppose war against Iraq with every nonviolent means at our disposal.

Ben Oquist
Adviser to Greens Senator Bob Brown
02 62773170 ph
02 62773185 fx
www.greens.org.au/bobbrown