Ahern: I'll give Bush Irish view on Iraq

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said he would tell United States President George Bush that the United Nations should have a primary role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Speaking ahead of the war summit in Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern said he would also convey the view of many Irish people that the war in Iraq is illegal.

“We want to see a new administration that will have greater legitimacy if it is under the ambit of the international community,” he told reporters in Dublin.

“We also want to achieve the position that the UN will be at the heart of that.”

The Taoiseach was speaking as President Bush and US Secretary of State Colin Powell made their way to Hillsborough for crucial talks which will focus both on war in Iraq and on the peace process.

Mr Ahern said that he would be speaking to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and would “dutifully relay” the up-to-date position of the United Nations to the president when he meets him tomorrow.

Asked whether he would be telling President Bush that the UN should have a primary role in the reconstruction of Iraq Mr Ahern said: “That is the UN position, that is the EU position and I will be doing that.”

President Bush, who will join Prime Minister Tony Blair for the summit at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, is expected to call on the IRA to fulfil its obligations as the two leaders spend time focusing on Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach said the main reason for his visit to Hillsborough was for talks on the Northern Ireland peace process.

“It is a very very important week in the peace process, the most important since this week five years ago,” he said.

Although progress had been made it was important not to become complacent.

“I think things are going well but we have been in good positions before, as you get to the last few days and they get unstuck,” he said.

“They are very fundamental issues for the parties to address, to agree on.”

Mr Ahern said he hoped to complete documents on the process during his meeting with Mr Blair tomorrow and that they would then be presented on Thursday.

During the summit the village of Hillsborough will be inaccessible to thousands of protesters from both parts of Ireland who hope to voice opposition to war in Iraq.