The Iraqi Crisis

The Statement Issued By
The Committee On Arab And Foreign Affairs
And National Security
On

President Mubarak’s Statement To The Nation
On
The Iraqi Crisis
And The Beginning of Military Operations Against Iraq

Chaired by Dr. Mostafa Kamal Helmy (Speaker of the Shoura Council) and attended by Dr. Fathy El-Baradey (Chairman of the Committee on Arab and Foreign Affairs and National Security), representatives of the political parties, Bureaus of the Council’s Specific Standing Committees and Counselor Farag El- Dorry ( Secretary General of the Council),the Committee on Arab and Foreign Affairs and National Security held its meeting on March 20^th, 2003 to discuss President Mubarak’s Statement to the Nation on the Iraqi Crisis and the beginning of military operations against Iraq.

Permanently convened to follow up the accelerating events on the Arab Arena, the Committee on Arab and Foreign Affairs and National Security;

- As it backs the immense efforts exerted by President Mohamed Hosny Mubarak and his contacts with all the concerned parties to contain the unceasing situations and to maintain peace and security in the region…

- And as it backs the comprehensive statement delivered by President Mubarak to the Nation on the Iraqi crisis and the Palestinian cause confirming his sharp and objective view that always seeks the supreme interest of the nation….

- And as it is gravely concerned about the military interference in Iraq….

- And being sympathized with the brotherly Iraqi people, the helpless victim of international obvious targets….

- And as it recalls to mind some quotations of President Mubarak’s Statement to the Nation;

● We reached this grave stage as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in the year 1990 that created security fears with many of the region’s countries and that widely opened the door to foreign intensive existence in the absence of any real Iraqi effort to deal with the confidence crisis that had emerged as a result of that aggression and its implications.

● Maintaining the Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity.

● The importance of lifting suffering off the Iraqi people.

● Rejecting any attempt to interfere to change regimes by force.

● The importance of reinforcing the spirit of Arab Solidarity and cohesion in spite of all the consequences and events.

● The importance of implementing article 14 of the UN security Council resolution no. 687 as regard dealing with the Iraqi Mass Destruction weapons being a beginning to make the Middle East a Mass Destruction Weapons Free Zone.

● Vigorously and effectively supporting the Arab Institutions.

- And as the Committee, with grave concern, followed the accelerating and successive events of the crisis’ cumulations.

The Committee, thus, confirms the following:

- Calling upon all the international organizations, governments, parliaments, institutions and organizations of the civil society all over the world to urgently stop military action and to ensure adequate international protection for civilians of the brotherly Iraqi people and provide them with all necessary means of living.

- The military interference in Iraq had occurred away from international legitimacy and international law and so it has to be urgently confronted through serious attempts to re-establish international legitimacy.

- Deeply reconsidering the Arab National security system through the challenges that emerged with the current events.

- Calling upon all Egyptians to keep more and more wide awake and cautions as it is the responsibility of every Egyptian citizen to protect and safeguard the home front upholding our belief in God and in our homeland as consolidation for solidarity and cohesion and for gathering around our wise leadership seeking with which Egypt’s supreme interest away from any over-biding or unfair attempts to threaten Egypt’s internal security.

Chairman of The Committee

On Arab And Foreign

Affairs And National Security

20-3-2003

Prof.Dr.Fathy EL- Baradei