In a speech in South Africa, at the Pretoria Press Club, Foreign Office Minister, Baroness Amos, spoke of the close relationship that exists between the UK and South Africa and of the values the two countries share. Referring to the conflict in Iraq and the situation in Zimbabwe, she emphasised that 'At the heart of our foreign policy, therefore, is co-operation, not colonialism'. She said that 'My country and the British Government firmly back the UN', and stressed that 'To be effective, to be credible the UN must not just talk and discuss, it must take action'. Paying tribute to South African President Mbeki, Baroness Amos reiterated the UK Government's commitment to NePAD; a process that 'remains African-conceived and African driven'. She expressed the hope that 'in these days of anxiety about Iraq, we can still work together, to build a future as equal partners, in mutual understanding and mutual trust, to the benefit of this continent, and of the world'.

FCO Minister, Mike O'Brien, gave a speech at a Wilton Park conference on 31 March in which he looked beyond the Middle East Peace Process and the war in Iraq 'to the opportunities to tap the capabilities and talents of people in the Arab world... in order to meet the challenges of economic development'. Promoting values of democracy and broad political participation, he said, in spite of such huge setbacks, will deliver real change. Mr O'Brien expressed the Government's desire to 'work with the Arab world in meeting the challenges in this new century'. He spoke of the importance of democracy, of the empowerment of women and young people through education, good governance, security, human rights and economic reform. The Minister concluded with the hope that concrete ways could be identified 'in which we can work in partnership to engineer a better future for our people in this new century of change'.

In an article in the Arab press on 29 March, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, wrote that 'history will judge that we made the right choice' on war with Iraq. He emphasized that the war 'is not a war of conquest but of liberation' and that the UK Government is 'working hard to bring humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people'. He outlined his vision of a 'better future' for Iraq and concluded: 'I genuinely believe the course we have taken will not only make the Middle East and the wider world a safer place but, by removing Saddam, will also be a blessing for all the Iraqi people'.

In a joint press conference with the US President, George W Bush, at Camp David, Tony Blair restated the commitment of the coalition partners to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power, and highlighted the progress already made in the military campaign in Iraq. He offered his condolences for those who have already died in the conflict and paid tribute to the professionalism of both US and British forces. Mr Blair said that he and President Bush had focused on the humanitarian issues in their discussions and that the most urgent priority now is to restart the UN Oil for Food Programme, which will be discussed with Kofi Annan later this evening. Post conflict issues were also discussed and Mr Blair said that they would seek 'new UN Security Council resolutions to affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, to ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq'. Mr Blair said that 'the justice of our cause lies in the liberation of the Iraqi people, and to them we say we will liberate you; the day of your freedom draws near'.

Speaking in an interview for BBC World Service on 26 March, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw described the Washington summit on Iraq as an opportunity to review military progress and to discuss post-conflict plans and the Middle East Peace Process. Recognising an element of truth in the accusation of double standards between the implementation of UN resolutions in Iraq and those on Israel and Palestine, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed his commitment to a viable Palestinian state. 'We are 100% committed to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state,' he said. 'It’s not just a matter of words; it’s a matter of action.'

During Prime Minister's questions in the House of Commons on 26 March Tony Blair was asked about the reconstruction of Iraq after the fighting stops and, in connection with Iraq, about the Middle East peace process. He also answered questions on military progress, post-conflict UN involvement and Iran.

In his monthly press conference, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair gave the latest news on the military campaign in Iraq. He said it would 'take time and perseverance and the continuing skill and dedication and professionalism of our Armed Forces to break (resistence) down. But nobody, least of all the forces loyal to Saddam, should be in any doubt that the resistance will be broken down and that the goals of the coalition forces will be met'. Mr Blair updated on the latest humanitarian situation. 'We are also determined in the wake of military success to bring humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq', he said. The Prime Minister announced that he would meet President Bush at Camp David, 'to discuss not just the military campaign, but also the diplomatic implications of recent events for the future', and that he would meet Kofi Annan in New York. He stressed that 'the United Nations must be centrally involved in dealing both with the humanitarian crisis and in helping Iraq rebuild itself once Saddam has gone'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and Mircea Geoana, the Romanian Foreign Minister held a press conference today following their meeting at the FCO. The Foreign Secretary detailed their conversation, which included discussions on 'NATO's entry into NATO', 'bilateral relations', 'trade and investment', 'and particularly Romania's application for European Union membership'. Wider issues were also discussed: the Middle East Road Map and 'the role which Romania wishes to play ... in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq'. Mr Geoana described the visit as 'another important step for this very, very strong alliance between our two countries'. Press questions were then taken on the war in Iraq.

During FCO Questions in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw answered questions on Iraq and on the steps towards implementation of the Road Map to peace in the Middle East. FCO Ministers also gave answers on the Roma people, the United Nations, the Convention on the Future of Europe, Anglo-French and British-German relations.

The Foreign Office has today decided that the Head of the Iraqi Interests Section in the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is persona non grata and the Administrative Attache of the Iraqi Interests Section is not acceptable as a member of the Embassy.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, made a statement to the Commons today in which he restated the UK's central objectives in the Iraq conflict. The campaign, he said, should be carried out in such a way that 'minimises the suffering of ordinary Iraqi people... to make this a war not of conquest but of liberation'. Mr Blair detailed the military campaign and made a statement on the European Council, where 'Europe came together to set out clearly it wishes and responsibilities in post-conflict Iraq'. The Middle East Peace Process was also discussed. The Prime Minister concluded on Iraq: 'That we will encounter more difficulties and anxious moments in the days ahead is certain. But no less certain, indeed more so, is coalition victory'.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, gave an interview on the British Forces Broadcasting Services in which he said that 'there will be some tough times ahead, but (the campaign in Iraq) is going to plan, despite the tragedies that have occurred'. He added: 'it is also important to realise that when we are acting, whether it is in Kosovo or Afghanistan, or Sierra Leone, or here in Iraq, the first beneficiaries of the action are the people that we are liberating, usually from brutal and dictatorial rule'. Mr Blair paid tribute to the courage of the Armed Forces: 'They are doing a superb job, they are doing a necessary job for Britain and the wider world, and they are delivering safety and security for us here and for countless other nations in the world.'

In a press conference following a European Council meeting in Brussels on 21 March, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the Servicemen who were killed in the recent helicopter crash in Iraq. 'These were brave men who in order to make us safer and more secure knew the risks, faced the risks and had the courage to serve their country and the wider world,' he said. Mr Blair then spoke of the discussions on Iraq at the Council meeting saying that in spite of differences, 'there is considerable support, political and practical, within the European Union, and among countries set to join the European Union, for the position that we have taken'. He described the alliance between Europe and the United States as 'an article of faith for me', saying 'it is important and right that the European Union leaders restated emphatically our commitment to strengthening the transatlantic alliance'. Finally Mr Blair said there had been encouraging progress on the economic reform agenda 'that is vital to our future prosperity in Europe'.

In a televised broadcast to the nation on 20 March, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, explained why he gave the order for British forces to take part in military action in Iraq. 'Our choice is clear,' Mr Blair said; 'back down and leave Saddam hugely strengthened; or proceed to disarm him by force. Retreat might give us a moment of respite but years of repentance at our weakness would I believe follow.' He re-asserted that the UK's commitment to the post-Saddam humanitarian effort 'will be total'.

In a press conference in London on 20 March, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, spoke about the preliminary attack on Iraq, saying Saddam's defiance of the international community has left 'no option but to use force'. Mr Straw quoted from a new report by United Nations weapons inspector Dr Blix, in which he reported that 'three and a half months of work, carried out in Iraq by UNMOVIC, have not brought the assurances needed about the absence of weapons of mass destruction and other proscribed items in Iraq'. Iraq will be on the agenda of the European Council summit meeting in Brussels, which the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary will both attend. Mr Straw said 'what we shall be arguing for is for the European community to come together and recognise that we have a common agenda working for the humanitarian relief of Iraq and its reconstruction'. Concluding, Mr Straw described the UK Government's pledge to 'work with the international community to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people and to support an international reconstruction programme. And to this end, as the conclusions of the Azores Summit committed us, we shall be working very hard to secure a new United Nations Security Council resolution.'

The Foreign Office has revised its Travel Advice for Jordan on 19 March to advise against all travel. The Foreign Office already advises British nationals in the Middle East region of the varying risk of attack from Iraq in the event of hostilities and also that terrorist attacks in the region could involve the use of chemical and biological materials.

The Foreign Office has issued a Worldwide Threat warning on 19 March to alert British nationals to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout the world during military action in Iraq. The following text has been placed on each of the 214 Travel Advice notices: 'The risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in public places, including tourist sites, will be especially high during military action in Iraq. You should be vigilant, take sensible precautions, be aware of local sensibilities, monitor the media, and check our Travel Advice for the country you live in or plan to visit.'

In response to a parliamentary question about the Select Committee on International Development's report humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq on 19 March, Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said the Government 'strongly welcome' the report. Mr O'Brien said the UK Government would seek a United Nations resolution to deal with the humanitarian issues. 'We shall try to transfer the oil-for-food programme to the United Nations Secretary-General to enable him to keep the process functioning and use UN facilities to do that', he said. 'We shall also enable an international reconstruction programme to facilitate the use of oil revenues for the benefit of the Iraqi people and to endorse a post-conflict administration in Iraq, which will lead to a representative Government who would uphold human rights and rule of law for all Iraqis.'

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, made a statement to the House of Commons on 18 March urging MPs to support the use of Britain's armed forces in Iraq. Mr Straw outlined the case for supporting the motion - of the House's duties to troops in the field and the exile or disarmament by force of Saddam Hussein. He said, 'The choice is this. Either we leave Saddam where he is, armed and emboldened, an even bigger threat to his country, his region and to international peace and security, or we disarm him by force... I wish there were some other way... but it is not there and it will not be there'. Mr Straw said that upholding the motion would almost certainly mean the involvement of British forces in military action. He concluded, 'But far fewer Iraqis in the future will be maimed, or tortured or killed by the Saddam regime, the Iraqi people will begin to enjoy the freedom and prosperity which should be theirs, the world will become a safer place, and above all the essential authority of the United Nations will have been upheld'.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, answered a Parliamentary Question on 18 March in which he states that authority to use force against Iraq exists from the combined effect of resolutions 678, 687 and 1441. All of these resolutions were adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter which allows the use of force for the express purpose of restoring international peace and security.

In a statement to the House of Commons on 18 March to open a debate on Iraq, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, outlined the choices for the UK Government ahead of any possible military action in Iraq. He described the current situation in the context of the history of Saddam's regime, saying: 'What is perfectly clear is that Saddam is playing the same old games in the same way. Yes, there are minor concessions, but there has been no fundamental change of heart or mind.' Mr Blair went on to discuss the need for a credible threat of force to push Saddam into compliance, and expressed his disappointment that a second United Nations Security Council Resolution was not passed, saying 'the world has to learn the lesson all over again that weakness in the face of a threat from a tyrant is the surest way not to peace but, unfortunately, to conflict.' Mr Blair outlined the recent divisions in the United Nations, saying 'there will be in any event no sound future for the United Nations - no guarantee against the repetition of these events - unless we recognise the urgent need for a political agenda that we can unite upon'. In conclusion, Mr Blair outlined the consequences of the decision on the next steps, saying: 'To retreat now, I believe, would put at hazard all that we hold dearest. To turn the United Nations back into a talking shop; to stifle the first steps of progress in the Middle East; to leave the Iraqi people to the mercy of events over which we would have relinquished all power to influence for the better; to tell our allies that at the very moment of action, at the very moment when they need our determination, Britain faltered: I will not be party to such a course.'

In a statement to the House of Commons on 17 March 2003, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, explained that 'As a result of Saddam Hussein's persistent refusal to meet the UN's demands, and the inability of the Security Council to adopt a further Resolution, the Cabinet has decided to ask the House to support the United Kingdom's participation in military operations should they be necessary'. Mr Straw said that attempting to disarm Saddam without the threat of force 'cannot produce the disarmament of Iraq; it cannot rid the world of the danger of the Iraqi regime. It can only bring comfort to tyrants, and emasculate the authority of the United Nations.' He described the debate, which will take place tomorrow, as 'the most important in the House for many years'.

The British Representative to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, made a statement today in which he said that 'Council consensus will not be possible in line with resolution 1441' on Iraq. He continued: 'Given this situation, the co-sponsors have agreed that we will not pursue a vote on the UK/US/Spanish resolution in blue'.

The UK Government published a document on 17 March outlining its vision for Iraq in the event of military action. The document sets out the background to the current situation in Iraq, the obligations placed on Saddam Hussein by the United Nations Security Council, and the consequences of his failure to comply. It also sets out proposals for assisting Iraq after any military action, saying 'our commitment to support the people of Iraq will be for the long term'. 'We pledge' it continues, 'to work with the international community to ensure that the Iraqi people can exploit their country's resources for their own benefit, and contribute to their own reconstruction, with international support where needed. We wish to help the Iraqi people restore their country to its proper dignity and place in the community of nations, abiding by its international obligations and free from UN sanctions.'

Command paper 5785, 'Iraq: UN documents of early March 2003', was presented to Parliament today. The paper brings together some of the key international documents relevant to the Iraq crisis.

Speaking in a statement following a summit between the UK, the US and Spain in the Azores on 16 March, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said that the international community had reached an impasse over its dealings with Iraq. 'We have reached the point of decision,' he said, 'and we make a final appeal for there to be that strong unified message on behalf of the international community that lays down a clear ultimatum to Saddam that authorises force if he continues to defy the will of the whole of the international community set out in [UN resolution] 1441.'

Speaking in an interview for the Politics Show on Sunday 16 March, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, was asked questions about a potential war with Iraq based on the benchmark of the five tests enumerated by Tony Blair in relation to the war in Kosovo. He was also asked about the purpose of the meeting between the UK, the US and Spain in the Azores, which he described as an effort to, 'assess the diplomatic situation and see whether it is possible for there to be a final diplomatic push for a peaceful solution.'

During a press conference with the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Antonio Martins da Cruz, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw said that a discussion on a range of bilateral issues had taken place, including the EU, Zimbabwe and Iraq. On Iraq, he said 'broadly we are in the same position of support for resolution 1441, and for all that was spelled out in that resolution if Iraq continued to be in non-compliance with it'. Mr Straw answered further questions about the implementation of Resolution 1441, Britain's relationship with France, and the proposal of six key tests for Iraq. He concluded on Iraq: 'surely we cannot allow such flagrant violations of obligations we set only 4 months ago to go unchecked or unnoticed, because if we do then the responsibilities of the Security Council for international peace and security will seriously have been found wanting'.

Video of Jack Straw news conference, 3mins  (VID, 128K)

At a news conference on 12 March, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told journalists that in order to seek the widest consensus on a second resolution, the UK's Ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, is currently discussing 'further amendments to our draft with Security Council partners' and 'circulating six tests by which Iraqi compliance would be measured.' Each of those tests is 'demanding, but deliverable,' Mr Straw said. He stressed the tests were not traps - 'every one of them could be met promptly, if only Saddam Hussein were to make the strategic choice to cooperate with the UN'. At the press conference, the Foreign Secretary also expressed his shock at the news of the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic.

In a statement to the House of Commons on 10 March, the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke about the recent United Nations Security Council meetings on Iraq, at which the UN weapons inspectors gave an update on their continuing work in the region. Mr Straw referred to a new UNMOVIC document which 'sets out, in 173 pages of painstaking detail, the terrible nature of the weapons Saddam has sought with such determination to develop'. On the revised version of the UK/US/Spain draft second Resolution, Mr Straw said 'What we are proposing is eminently reasonable. We are not expecting Saddam to have disarmed in a week or so; but to demonstrate by that time the full, unconditional, immediate and active cooperation demanded of him by successive UN resolutions since 1991.' Mr Straw went on to discuss the situation across the Middle East, saying 'A lasting settlement in the Middle East would remove one great threat to security in the region and the wider world. In confronting the danger from Iraq's weapons, the UN can remove another.'

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said in his statement to the UN Security Council on 7 March that 'not one Minister before this Council in my hearing, has said that Iraq is now fully, actively and immediately in compliance with 1441'. He argued that 'Iraq is still refusing to pass a law saying that such activity by members of state government authorities is illegal' and that Iraqi disarmament 'is perfectly possible, perfectly achievable and necessary for Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime to bring themselves into compliance'. The Foreign Secretary concluded: 'the Council must send Iraq the clear message that we will resolve the crisis on the United Nations terms, the terms which the Council established four months ago when we unanimously adopted Resolution 1441'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has spoken of Iraq's final opportunity to comply with the United Nations' resolutions in a press conference in New York on 6 March, saying 'The one and only certain thing we know is that Iraq has not complied fully, actively and immediately on substance. And there is overwhelming evidence that it has made no serious attempt to do so.' He described a new UNMOVIC report on Iraq as 'a shocking indictment of the record of Saddam Hussein's deception and deceit. But above all of the danger which he poses to the region and to the world.' Asked about the wording of a second UN resolution on Iraq, Mr Straw said 'of course we were ready to discuss the wording of that second resolution and to take on board any constructive suggestions as to how the process set out in that draft resolution could be improved.'

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, held a joint press conference today following their meeting. Mr Straw said that 'the bilateral relationship between the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom has never been better'. They had discussed 'issues of foreign policy which include Iraq and the Middle East peace process' and would discuss 'other key issues, including North Korea, Afghanistan and India, Pakistan' that evening, he said. The Foreign Secretary said that the UK and Russia 'share the same objective in respect of Iraq, which is Iraq's disarmament of its weapons of mass destruction'. Mr Ivanov added: 'It is well known that there may be different views on how this common goal that we are seeking, that we are trying to achieve, can be achieved ... and we continue our constructive dialogue on this issue'.