Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Iraq, Iran, Middle East and Other Business.
Iraq
Asked if the Prime Minister had had any conversations with Prime Minister Alawi, the PMOS told journalists that they had had a long and detailed conversation last Friday. As a result of that conversation the Prime Minister was fully aware of the issues. No further contact was necessary although naturally the UK government maintained full contact with the interim administration inIraq at all levels.
Asked if he was aware of comments made by Sir Stephen Wall regarding the legality of the UK presence in Iraq, the PMOS said he was not aware of the comments and therefore could not comment on them. Sir Stephen Wall as a member of the public was fully entitled to his view. The PMOS reminded journalists that Iraq wasn’t the area Stephen Wall had been responsible for whilst working for the Government.
Put to him that the Prime Minister had said that if the terrorism in Iraq stopped the multinational force in Iraq would leave, and asked how that might happen, the PMOS said that that would depend on the capacity of the Iraqi troops and their ability to maintain security. What the Government had been saying, and saying consistently since Easter was that there was a direct relationship between the capacity of the Iraqi forces, the nature of the threat they faced and the presence of the multinational force. The greater the capacity of the Iraqi force, the lesser threat they faced, the quicker the multinational force would leave.
Iran
Asked about the developments with regards to nuclear programmes inIran, the PMOS told journalists that there had been a tentative agreement amongst the political directors. That had to be reported back to their respective Governments, and then decisions taken. It was not simply in our hands or the American’s hands, but in the hands of others, including the Iranians.
Middle East
Asked what the Prime Minister expected to get from the President with regards to the Middle East, the PMOS told journalists that as he had said this morning, discussions should be allowed to take place. We all accepted that due to the length of the US election process, and also due to factors on the ground, momentum had slowed in the Middle East Peace Process in the last year. It was now time to pick up that momentum and what would come from the meeting would be a signal of intent as to how we might do that.
Asked if we would make specific proposals, the PMOS said that it shouldn’t be thought that we were starting from a blank page on this issue. We had the Road Map, we had the stated intention to withdraw from Gaza and we knew the administration’s mind and they knew our mind. What we were anxious to talk about was how we could move forward jointly and collectively and do so in partnership with Europe and others. Asked how we would describe the administrations mind, the PMOS said that it was better if the administration described their own policy.
Other Business
Asked if the Prime Minister would be picking up his Congressional Medal this week, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that it was not on the agenda. This was a brief working visit to the White House.
Asked about developments with respect to Sudan, the PMOS said that there was a process of dialogue going which involved the UN which has an end of year deadline attached to it. We should wait and see how that went. The Sudanese Government were well aware that this was not an issue where the attention of the outside world would turn away. That attention would stay focussed on Sudan until the Sudanese Government complied with its obligations. Equally that was true for the rebels as well.
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