In his annual speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said he was proud of the steps the UK has taken over the last year to put the principles of global responsibility, democracy, human rights and the rule of law into effect. He said that the UK is working with other Governments across the world to promote these universal values and said, 'we do not need to look to the historical precedents to know that where these values flourish, peace and prosperity follow'. Focussing on Iraq and the Middle East, Mr Straw said that the Iraqi people 'finally have the chance to build a prosperous future based on the rule of law rather than the Ba’ath party’s rule of the jungle' and that, 'the establishment of a representative, elected government should help to nail the myth – perpetrated in the West as much as anywhere else - that Islam and democracy are mutually exclusive'. On the Roadmap for peace in the Middle East, he said, 'the UK will do everything possible to ensure that this process succeeds'.

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said that now large-scale combat operations in Iraq are over, 'The overwhelming majority of the country is under coalition control'. He said that although minor pockets of resistance remain, schools and markets are reopening and hospitals are resuming normal service, as looting and civil disorder have subsided and people return to their homes. He continued, 'a new and representative Iraqi Government, run by the Iraqi people and for the Iraqi people, will help guarantee this freedom for future generations' and that 'Iraq’s future will be better than its past'. On the situation in the Middle East, Mr Straw said, once the Palestinian Legislative Council endorses the Cabinet later this week, then the Roadmap will be published which charts a course to 'a secure state of Israel and a viable Palestinian state, consistent with UN Security Council resolutions and the principle of land for peace'. Mr Straw emphasised that this 'great prize' will only be achieved through 'visionary leadership and courageous statesmanship from both sides' and that it 'would remove the single greatest source of resentment and mistrust which bedevils relations between the West and the Muslim world'.

Foreign Office Minister, Mike O’Brien, is in Baghdad today to attend a meeting on building Iraq's political future. This is the next step in a series of consultations among Iraqis. It builds on the steps taken at the Nasiriyah meeting, attended by senior FCO official Edward Chaplin, on 15 April. Mr O' Brien said that he hoped the meeting would 'bring together an even broader range of Iraqi participants...including opposition exile groups and those newly liberated' and that Iraqi women also would 'increasingly be able to participate in this political process'.

Speaking in an interview for the Today Programme on 25 April the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said it was good that the coalition had now got 12 of the Iraqi regime's most wanted members, but admitted there was still no sign of the former Iraqi leader himself. Responding to questions about the search for weapons of mass destruction the Foreign Secretary said the whole international community accepted that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and that they presented a threat to security, which is why UNSCR 1441 was unanimously passed, but that it would depend on the Security Council whether the inspectors would go back. On North Korea the Foreign Secretary said there was no question of an attack on the country because the diplomatic process was far from exhausted. 'The good news,' he said, 'is that there is now an architecture by which North Korea and the United States are in negotiations under the auspices of negotiations led by China.'

In a joint press conference following talks between the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his Spanish counterpart, Jose Maria Aznar, Tony Blair welcomed the Spanish Prime Minister and expressed his gratitude for Spain's support in recent months. Reporting on their talks the Prime Minister said they had mainly discussed Iraq and the Middle East Peace Process, but also the wider fight against terrorism. The Prime Minister said that everything possible was being done to improve the humanitarian situation in Iraq and described the agreement of a new Palestinian cabinet under Abu Mazen as a chance to make progress in the Middle East. 'So, José Maria,' he said, '…many, many thanks for all you have done over these past few weeks and months; it has been of tremendous support and assistance.'

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, held a press conference in Athens today. Mr Annan expressed his confidence that the UN will play 'an important role' in post-conflict Iraq. Mr Blair said that the role should exist 'not simply in respect of humanitarian issues, but also in respect of political and reconstruction issues that arise'. The UN Secretary General added that they had discussed the necessity of factoring in 'the views of the region' as 'what happens in Iraq is of interest to the region as well'.

At a press conference, given with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder said the two leaders had addressed 'the joint tasks that we have in Europe'. The main focus of their talks, however, was the situation in Iraq. Mr Blair continued that 'whatever differences there were before the conflict began in Iraq, the state of our bilateral relations is extremely strong and will remain so'. There was 'strong agreement', he said, on 'how we manage the future in Iraq and elsewhere': the installation of a representative form of government, progress on the humanitarian front, economic and political reconstruction and a 'key role' for the United Nations in the process.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, told the Commons on 14 April that 'Iraq is a better place without Saddam' and gave an assessment of the current situation there. He set out three phases in the process of Iraq's reconstruction: ensuring security and humanitarian needs are met; the establishment of an Iraqi Interim Authority followed by a fully representative Iraqi government. He added, 'the essence of all that we do is... to ensure Iraq is run by and for the Iraqi people'. The Prime Minister also updated MPs on the Middle East Peace Process and EU/US relations. He concluded on Iraq, saying that the UK Government will 'make the peace worth the war... with a fixed and steady resolve that the cause was just, the victory right and the future for us to make in a way that will stand the judgement of history'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, held a press conference today in Kuwait. He thanked the Kuwaiti Government for their military cooperation over Iraq and paid tribute to the professionalism of Coalition troops. He announced that Major General Tim Cross would be one of the deputies joining the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance. The Foreign Secretary said 'the prospects for the future are much brighter than they have been' in the region. He spoke of the 'increasing consensus about the steps that need to be taken to rebuild Iraq to provide that better, more prosperous, more peaceful future for the people of Iraq and in doing so to secure a more stable region and a safer world'.

In an interview on the Today Programme, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, spoke about Syria, Iran and Iraq. He said that 'what's important is that Syria agrees to sit down with the United States, United Kingdom and actively cooperates over these questions that have been raised about their current relations with Iraq'. Regarding Iran, he said: 'We want to see good neighbour relations with Iran and we're grateful to the Iranians for the support and cooperation which they gave during the course of this military conflict'. The Foreign Secretary also spoke of the 'restoration of order', in Iraq, 'the clearing up of the remnants of the Saddam regime', reconstruction and humanitarian assistance. He concluded: 'the whole of the Arab world is going to be a great deal better off without Saddam and his terror and the way he contaminated the whole politics of the region'.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw reported on his talks with his Japanese counterpart, Yoriko Kawaguchi, in London on 11 April. On the disorder currently taking place in Baghdad and other cities in Iraq, Mr Straw told journalists that 'the UK and US forces in their own theatres are doing everything they can to work as hard as possible to re-establish and to restore order'. He noted that 'wherever totalitarian regimes have collapsed, there is always, always, a period of some disorder which follows... What we know from our own orderly societies is that order is the necessary concomitant of freedom.' The Foreign Secretary went on to say that he would be visiting the headquarters of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Kuwait early next week where he would hold talks with General Jay Garner.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, held a press conference with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheikh Dr Mohammed al-Sabah, on 10 April. Mr Straw said that during their meeting they discussed the Middle East Peace Process and the 'need to ensure the full respect and implementation of all the Security Council resolutions which relate to Iraq and Kuwait'. Mr Straw condemned the assassination of Sheikh Majid al-Koey, the Shia leader in Najaf. Sheikh Dr Mohammed said that he had 'discussed with the Foreign Minister (Kuwait's) views about post-Saddam Iraq and the need for a regional system that is based on international law and respect for the Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq'. He concluded 'the United Kingdom is an important ally to Kuwait and we look forward to ... the ongoing discussion and political dialogue that exists between us'.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair and the US President, George Bush, broadcast messages direct to the Iraqi people in the first transmission of Towards Freedom Television on 10 April. Mr Blair told Iraqis that 'Saddam Hussein's regime is collapsing ... the years of brutality oppression and fear are coming to an end' he outlined the Coalition's aims 'to help alleviate immediate humanitarian suffering' and for Iraq to 'move as soon as possible to an interim authority run by Iraqis'. Mr Bush concluded his message: 'The nightmare that Saddam Hussein has brought to your nation will soon be over ... You deserve to live as free people. And I assure every citizen of Iraq: your nation will soon be free'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, made a statement in Iraq in the House of Commons today. He said 'we are without question at the start of a new and much better chapter in Iraq's history'. He outlined the UK Government's priorities in post-conflict Iraq, such as the provision of humanitarian assistance. He spoke of the UN's role in Iraq's reconstruction and emphasized: 'It is our guiding principle that as soon as possible Iraq should be governed by the Iraqi people themselves'. Mr Straw concluded 'today we are well on the way to achieving the objectives we set. In doing so we have taken on new responsibilities to the people of Iraq. We will apply the same energy and commitment to fulfilling these as we have done to the military task'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw and the French Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin held a press conference today following their meeting, in which they discussed Iraq, the Middle East Peace Process, the EU, the UK and French bilateral relationship, Northern Ireland, India and Pakistan and the Cote d'Ivoire. Mr Straw drew attention to some of the key points made at the end of the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Bush at Hillsborough yesterday: for example, the 'vital role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq' and the necessity of Iraq's government 'by the people of Iraq'. The two ministers then took questions, in which Mr Straw described 'the profound ties of friendship' between the UK and France. 'We're committed as France is to maintaining and strengthening these ties', he said.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the US President, George Bush, released a joint statement today following their talks at Hillsborough Castle. 'After years of dictatorship', it read, 'Iraq will soon be liberated'. The two leaders outlined the success of military operations and details of the delivery of humanitarian assistance. They stressed their gratitude to the Armed Forces and their grief for the loss of Armed Forces' and civilian lives in Iraq. The statement continued: 'The day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly'. It concluded: 'We look forward to welcoming a liberated Iraq to the international community of nations. We call upon our partners in the international community to join with us in ensuring a democratic and secure future for the Iraqi people.'

In a statement to the Iraqi people, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair has repeated the commitment of coalition forces to 'a peaceful, prosperous Iraq which will be run by and for the Iraqi people' and emphasised that troops 'will not stay a day longer than necessary'. He assured them that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein 'will be gone' and that coalition forces will work with the United Nations 'to help Iraq get back on its feet'. He said that humanitarian aid will continue to be provided and gave reassurance that deliveries of vital aid such as food, medicine and drinking water will continue to get through. He stressed that the campaign 'is not a war of conquest' but aims to 'end dictatorship, remove the weapons of mass destruction and liberate the Iraqi people so [they] can determine [their] own future – a better future'. Mr Blair said that 'in the spirit of true friendship and goodwill we will do our utmost to help'.

In a written ministerial statement, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw has highlighted the key points of discussion during his trip to Camp David on 26 and 27 March with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair to meet with President Bush and Secretary Powell. While much of the discussion, 'focussed on the future, looking beyond the conflict' the military situation in Iraq was also 'reviewed', and the role of the UN and the Middle East Peace Process were also key issues. Mr Straw highlights that 'The Prime Minister and President Bush made clear their joint commitment to reuniting the UN Security Council in expectation of further work on the post conflict political process and reconstruction' and that they 'would seek new UN resolutions to affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, to ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq'.

In a speech to the Newspaper Society Annual Conference on 1 April 2003, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, repeated the UK's commitment to the liberation and future prosperity of Iraq. Referring to post-conflict Iraq, Mr Straw said 'our approach to humanitarian relief and reconstruction will be founded on four key commitments, each of which will help to reunite a country which has effectively been stolen by Saddam Hussein from its people'. He highlighted the commitments to: supply emergency relief over the coming days and weeks; ensure that the United Nations oversees the medium and long-term international aid programme to Iraq; work with the United Nations and others on the long-term redevelopment and rehabilitation of Iraq; and ensure that 'Iraq’s oil wealth will be used for the benefit of the Iraqi people, to develop the infrastructure and services the country so desperately needs'. He reaffirmed the coalition's aim to 'rid the world of a brutal dictator and, in doing so, ensure that the long-suffering Iraqi people will emerge from the shadow of dictatorship into the light of freedom,' and urged that 'nobody should underestimate our resolve to make this aspiration a reality'.