Britain will ask parliament to approve joining U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants and Iran should be given the chance to help defeat them UKs Prime Minister told the United Nations. Now of course it is absolutely right that we should learn the lessons of the past especially what happened in Iraq a decade ago. But we have to learn the right lessons. Yes to careful preparation, No to rushing into a conflict without a clear plan. But we must not be so frozen with fear that we dont do anything at all. Isolation and withdrawing from a problem like ISIL will only make matters worse. We must not allow past mistakes to become an excuse for indifference or inaction. The right lesson is that we should act but act differently. We should be comprehensive defeating the ideology of extremism that is the root cause of this terrorism so that we win the battle of ideas not just the battle of military might 5. UNITED KINGDOM SIGN IN FRONT OF DELEGATE LISTENING 6. CAMERON TALKING 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING: Iran should also be given the chance to show it can be part of the solution not part of the problem. Earlier today I met with President Rouhani, We have severe disagreements. Irans support for terrorist organisations, its nuclear programme, its treatment of its people, all these need to change. But Irans leaders could help in defeating the threat from ISIL (PICTURE OF IRANIAN DELEGATE TAKING NOTES) They could help secure a stable, more inclusive Iraq and a more stable and inclusive Syria. and if they are prepared to do this, then we should welcome their engagement. 8. LITHUANIA DELEGATES LISTENING AS CAMERON TALKS ABOUT SOME PEOPLE WANTING TO DO A DEAL WITH BASHAR AL ASSAD TO DEFEAT ISIL 9. CAMERON ADDRESSING THE ASSEMBLY SAYING: our enemys enemy is not our friend, it is another enemy 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING: so to those who have backed Assad or who have stood on the side lines, I would say this: we are ready to join with you in a new political effort to secure a representative and accountable government in Damascus that can take the fight to ISIL. But (GERMANY REPRESENTATIVES LISTENING) it is simply not credible for Assad to lead such a government although we are prepared to look at every practical option to find a way forward 11. ASSEMBLY 12. QATAR DELEGATES LISTENING 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON SAYING: The UN Security Council has now received a clear request from the Iraqi government to support it in its military action against ISIL so we have a clear basis in international law for action and we have a need to act in our own national interest to protect our people and our society. So it is right that Britain should now move to a new phase of action. I am therefore recalling the British parliament on Friday to secure approval for the United Kingdom to take part in international airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. My message today is simple: we are facing an evil against which the whole of the world should unite, and as ever in the cause of freedom democracy and justice, Britain will play its part 14, APPLAUSE, CAMERON LEAVES STORY: British Prime Minister David Cameron said fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria needed to be backed by a careful plan, include as many nations as possible and target the ideology behind the movement just as much as the fighters themselves in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (September 24) (after midnight in GMT September 25). With many British, as well as international partners, viewing the military involvement of the US and Britain in the war to topple Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003 as a mistake Cameron tried to reassure the Assembly that this conflict was different and that the mandate was today clear after Iraq called for military assistance. Now of course it is absolutely right that we should learn the lessons of the past especially what happened in Iraq a decade ago. But we have to learn the right lessons. Yes to careful preparation, No to rushing into a conflict without a clear plan. But we must not be so frozen with fear that we dont do anything at all, Cameron said. Echoing US President Barack Obamas words earlier Cameron said nations needed to address the ideology behind Islamic State and put in place laws and rules to ban anyone inciting religious or sectarian violence. We should be comprehensive defeating the ideology of extremism that is the root cause of this terrorism so that we win the battle of ideas not just the battle of military might, Cameron said. The British PM said Iran could play an important role in defeating ISIS. Although he did not go into any detail about how, several countries, not least Iran herself, have made it clear they do not want Iran to be part of a military alliance against IS. Camerons office earlier confirmed he and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani agreed that the two countries should work to improve ties and that it was crucial for Tehran and major powers to reach a long-term nuclear deal following a meeting between the two men. It was the first such meeting since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Britain severed direct diplomatic relations with Iran after hardline activists stormed its embassy in Tehran in late 2011. The statement suggested Britain believes Iran could approach Syria to promote a transition to a new, inclusive government that represented all Syrians. Iran should also be given the chance to show it can be part of the solution not part of the problem. Earlier today I met with President Rouhani, We have severe disagreements. Irans support for terrorist organisations, its nuclear programme, its treatment of its people, all these need to change. But Irans leaders could help in defeating the threat from ISIL They could help secure a stable, more inclusive Iraq and a more stable and inclusive Syria. and if they are prepared to do this, then we should welcome their engagement, Cameron said. Cameron said it was dangerously misguided for anyone to think that a deal could be done with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a bid to defeat Islamic State. Our enemies enemy is not our friend. It is another enemy, he said. But he invited all moderates to join in efforts to form a transition government without Assad. So to those who have backed Assad or who have stood on the side lines, I would say this: we are ready to join with you in a new political effort to secure a representative and accountable government in Damascus that can take the fight to ISIL. But it is simply not credible for Assad to lead such a government although we are prepared to look at every practical option to find a way forward, Cameron said. Parliament, which was in recess, will reconvene on Friday (September 26) to vote on allowing Britains Royal Air Force to hit Islamic State targets in northern Iraq. The action has the backing of all three main parties and is expected to comfortably pass. The UN Security Council has now received a clear request from the Iraqi government to support it in its military action against ISIL so we have a clear basis in international law for action and we have a need to act in our own national interest to protect our people and our society. So it is right that Britain should now move to a new phase of action. I am therefore recalling the British parliament on Friday to secure approval for the United Kingdom to take part in international airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq, Cameron said. Britain, a staunch U.S. ally, was quick to join military action in Afghanistan and Iraq a decade ago. But a war-weary public and parliaments rejection last year of air strikes on Syrian government targets prompted Cameron to proceed cautiously this time and win cross-party support before acting. Cameron spoke after U.S. planes pounded Islamic State positions in Syria for a second day. But the strikes did not halt the fighters advance in a Kurdish area where fleeing refugees told of villages burnt and captives beheaded. It was the third night of U.S.-led airstrikes. Officials in Washington said they had pounded Islamic State-controlled oil refineries in eastern Syria to try and choke off a crucial source of revenue for the militant group. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined in the strikes by piloted and drone aircraft targeting facilities around al Mayadin, al Hasakah, and Abu Kamal, the U.S. military said.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:09:54 +0000
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