Mayors for Peace releases a Statement about Iraq problem

It was reported that the United States submitted a new resolution to the UN Security Council seeking its approval of America’s use of arms against Iraq on February 24.

In response, the Mayors for Peace representing 539 member cities in 105 nations or regions sent a statement over the signatures of member cities to President Bush of the U.S., President Hussein of Iraq, the Secretary General of the UN and the representatives of the Security Council member nations urging them to make all possible efforts to avoid US military attack against Iraq.

 
　1.   The addressees
　　(1) The United States of America
　　　　　President of the United States of America  George W. Bush
　　　　　American ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to 　
　　　　　　Japan Howard H. Baker
　　(2) Iraq
　　　　　President of Republic of Iraq  Saddam Hussein
　　(3) The United Nations
　　　　　Secretary General of the UN  Kofi Annan
　　　　　　Representatives of 15 Security Council member nations

　2.   Number of city signers: 57
　　　　　As of March19, 2003, Another seven cities agreed, which
　　　　　　leads to the total of 64 cities.

　3.   The Statement
　　　　Please refer to the attached sheet.

　　　　　　　　　　　　Statement

As it closely watches the ongoing UN inspections to determine whether Iraq is developing or possesses weapons of mass destruction, the international community is dreading a U.S. military attack on that country.

There is no justification for the claim to have exhausted all avenues toward a peaceful resolution within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted last November and is the basis for the current UN inspections. Given the lack of indisputable evidence to justify the use of arms in the present situation, resorting to military power to disarm Iraq is wrong.

If military force is used, the UN estimates that about 500,000 Iraqis will be injured or killed. Most will be innocent civilians, including those least able to defend themselves-namely women, children and the elderly. Because children under 18 account for over half of the population in Iraq, we must expect many children to die, including those sent to the war fronts. Such an appalling tragedy must never be permitted.

As a minimal condition for human beings to survive, we demand that the international community should create a universal principle, which would offer a basis of framework to protect children from war, that no child may be killed or used as a tool of war and that every nation in the world should abide by it.

We urge continuation of the UN inspections with a greater number of inspectors and increased technological support. A U.S.-led attack on Iraq disregarding the international concerted efforts based on the UN must be adamantly opposed.

If Iraq has developed or possesses weapons of mass destruction, it must abolish them immediately. If Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction, then it can dispel all doubt concerning the issue only by genuine compliance with UN inspections. This would be the best way to deter the U.S. from resorting to military force.

We cannot countenance a new link in the old chain of hatred and violence that continues to rattle the Middle East. We urge the whole world should cooperate in efforts to settle this problem peacefully.

March 7, 2003

Member cities of Mayors for peace that have expressed their approval of the statement