Labour NEC Statement on Iraq

Conference resolves to do everything we can to help the Iraqis build a free, stable and democratic future. Conference condemns all acts of terrorism, including the holding of innocent people as hostages. Conference notes that the vast majority of the victims of these attacks are the Iraqi people themselves.

Conference acknowledges that those who supported and those who opposed military action in Iraq have united in support of the efforts of the emerging civil society in Iraq, including various parties, women's groups and the new, secular and independent Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). The IFTU strongly supports the process endorsed by the United Nations Security Council for the creation of a federal, democratic, pluralist, and unified Iraq, in which there is full respect for the political and human rights of all. Conference supports the TUC's appeal to raise funds to help rebuild the Iraqi trade union movement and its campaigns for workers rights.

Conference notes UN Security Council Resolution 1546 was adopted unanimously by all fifteen members on 8 June 2004. The British Government sponsored the Resolution, voted for it, is bound by it, and of course will honour it.

This resolution stated that, "the mandate for the multi national force shall be reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or 12 months from the date of this resolution and that this mandate shall expire upon the completion of the political progress...and declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq". In the light of this UN resolution conference recognises that British troops remain in Iraq at any time only at the request of the Iraqi Government and under the terms of this resolution the UN mandate for the multinational forces will terminate by December 2005.

Thereafter, there would have to be a request for the renewal of their mandate from the democratically elected Iraqi Government either with the agreement of the UN Security Council or as the result of a specific request from a democratically elected Iraqi government agreed with the United Kingdom Government, in conformity with UN resolutions and international law.

Conference notes that the UN adopted this resolution in response to a request by lyad Allawi, Prime Minister of the interim Iraqi Government. Conference notes that this UN resolution looked forward "to the end of the occupation and the assumption of full responsibility and authority by a fully sovereign and independent Interim Government of Iraq". Conference notes that the transfer of sovereignty took place on the 28th of June this year.

The UN resolution recognised the importance of the consent of the sovereign government of Iraq for the presence of the multi national force and close co-ordination between the multi national force and that government. Conference notes that these elections will lead to a Transitional National Assembly which will have responsibility for drafting a permanent constitution for Iraq leading to a constitutionally elected government by the end of 2005.

The UN resolution noted "the Iraqi request for the continued presence of the multi national force" and set out its tasks including, "by preventing and deterring terrorism so that the United Nations can fulfil its role in assisting the Iraqi people" and allowing them to, "implement freely and without intimidation the timetable and programme for the political process and benefit from reconstruction and rehabilitation activities." This UN resolution makes clear that "Iraqi security forces are responsible to appropriate Iraqi ministers" and that the Iraqi Government and the Multinational Force should reach agreement "on the full range of fundamental security and policy issues, including policy on sensitive offensive operations".

The UN resolution recognised “that the multi national force will also assist in building the capability of the Iraqi security forces and institutions through a programme of recruitment, training, equipping, mentoring and monitoring.”