Downing Street Says » 2004 » June

» Monday, June 7, 2004

Iraq

Asked for an update on the UN Resolution on Iraq, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as he had told journalists this morning, genuine progress had been made. This had been helped enormously by the input of the Iraqi Prime Minister and Foreign Minister over the weekend. However, we wanted to see a genuine consensus. The text of the Resolution would therefore be put to the vote once we believed we had the best chance of the Resolution being passed. We did not think that would be very long. He was unable to put a more precise timescale on the process because, as we knew from past experience, the UN had a habit of proving predictions wrong.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

G8

Asked again what we were expecting the big issues to be at the G8 Summit in Georgia this week, the PMOS said that as he had told journalists this morning, the broader Middle East was of primary concern to G8 members. We were interested in practical ways we could assist with the reform agenda - whether economically, educationally or politically - but done in a way which would not impose solutions from outside. Other big issues expected to be raised included Africa where the agenda, started at Evian, would continue all the way through to the UK's Presidency of the G8 next year. Part of those discussions would relate to the issue of peacekeeping. Debt was also likely to be discussed, as it had been a particular concern to the G8. Questioned further about other items on the agenda, the PMOS pointed out that the Summit was an informal meeting where other issues of concern to people could also be raised.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

PM Security

Asked to expand on the Prime Minister's comments in an interview with Time Out magazine, due to be published tomorrow, regarding his concerns about the creation of a barrier between the public and politicians following the recent flour attack in the House of Commons, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister's view on this matter was clear. Difficult though it might be, it was important to achieve the right balance between protecting politicians properly on the one hand, and maintaining the accessibility of the public on the other. As the current campaigning for the forthcoming elections by all parties demonstrated, direct contact with the electorate was a tradition which was both valued and useful. It went without saying that no politician, from the Prime Minister down, would want such a practice to end. Asked if the Prime Minister was disappointed that the G8 Summit in Georgia would be taking place under such tight security, the PMOS said that the protests we had seen in recent years showed that security was clearly a problem. That was something to be regretted. Nevertheless, the G8 was still an important meeting as it dealt with the big, broad issues of concern. The outcomes and conclusions might not grab headlines on the day. However, they presented coherent strategies to tackle 'unfashionable' problems, such as debt, which could make a real difference to the developing world.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Saudi Arabia

Asked if there were any plans to strengthen the security advice for Britons working in Saudi Arabia, the PMOS said that the Foreign Office had already issued guidance stating that people should travel to Saudi Arabia only if it was essential to do so. The situation there would be kept under constant review, as you would expect. The PMOS added that, as he had told journalists this morning, our thoughts were with the families of Frank Gardner and Simon Cumbers. Those journalists who had been fortunate to come across Simon, both in Ireland and here, would know that he was a decent man and was someone who would be sadly missed.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Saudi Arabia

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that our thoughts this morning were with the families of the BBC's Frank Gardner and Simon Cumbers. Those who had come across Simon through his work knew that he was a decent man. He would be missed.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

President Reagan

Asked if the Prime Minister would be attending the funeral of President Reagan in the US on Friday, the PMOS said that these were matters of protocol for the US to deal with in the first instance, and he was therefore unable to give a definitive answer to the question at this stage.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)

G8 Summit

Asked what the Prime Minister believed were the priorities for the G8 Summit in Georgia this week, the PMOS said that there was a particular US focus on the broader Middle East and on Africa in the run-up up to the UK's presidency of the G8 next year. As in recent years, the emphasis would be on practical matters which would help the reform process in both areas, ranging from the economy to education to helping political reform. This would be done in a way which would not impose reform from the outside but would ensure that we worked together with those countries involved. Further detail on this would emerge as the G8 Summit went on.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)

Immigration

Asked for a reaction to reports that a cap would be imposed on the number of people from Commonwealth countries applying for Working Holiday-Maker permits, the PMOS said that as the Home Office had made clear yesterday, we would deal with any problems that were identified. In this case, the problems did not relate to an increase in the number of applications being accepted but to a rise in the actual number of applications. The issue would be investigated and analysed and a solution would be proposed. He had no intention of pre-empting that process.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Postal Voting

Asked if the Prime Minister remained confident about the success of the postal ballot pilots, the PMOS said that the figures were not yet available. However, initial indications seemed to suggest that people had made an effort, and that was to be welcomed.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Iraq

Asked for an update on the new UN Resolution on Iraq, the PMOS said he thought it was worthwhile for people to cast their minds back three weeks, prior to the Prime Minister's visit to Ankara, when we had set out a scenario envisaging what we had hoped might happen in the intervening period: firstly, the establishment of the interim Iraqi Government comprising the various elements of Iraq's multi-ethnic society; secondly, the formation of a consensus around a new UN Resolution which we believed should be agreed with the incoming Iraqi Government. In that time, we had seen that scenario unfolding. It was important for people to recognise the progress that had been made. For example, we now had identifiable Iraqi politicians in charge of an Iraqi Government expressing their views about the way forward. They would be intimately involved in deciding the strategic framework within which the multi-national force would operate. This was clearly huge progress. Latest indications regarding the new UN Resolution on Iraq showed that a consensus was coming together quite quickly. However, it was important for people to exercise a little patience and wait and see how things transpired in the next few days. Asked if the objective was to reach agreement on the UN Resolution before the G8 Summit this week, the PMOS said that the objective was to get the Resolution passed as quickly as possible with as large a consensus as possible. We had seen the views of the new interim Iraqi Government as expressed by the Iraqi Prime Minister over the weekend and the Iraqi Foreign Minister before that. We would await the views of others before the Resolution was put to the vote.

Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)

Original PMOS briefings are © Crown Copyright. Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. Click-use licence number C02W0004089. Material is reproduced from the original 10 Downing Street source, but may not be the most up-to-date version of the briefings, which might be revised at the original source. Users should check with the original source in case of revisions. Comments are © Copyright contributors. Everything else is © Copyright Downing Street Says.

The unofficial site which lets you comment on the UK Prime Minister's official briefings. About us...

» Monday, June 7, 2004

Iraq

G8

PM Security

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

President Reagan

G8 Summit

Immigration

Postal Voting

Iraq

Search

Supported by

Recent Briefings

Archives

Links

Syndicate (RSS/XML)

Credits

Enquiries