Taoiseach bemoans 'catastrophic failures' in Iraq
US-led military action in Iraq has been a catastrophic failure and important lessons must now be learned, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told Middle East politicians tonight.
Mr Ahern, who allows US warplanes to refuel at Shannon Airport en route to Iraq, was speaking during a keynote address to the influential King Faisal Foundation in Saudi Arabia.
He also called for a stop to further brutalisation, division and isolation of the Middle East nation.
Speaking in Riyadh during a five-day trade mission to Gulf states, Mr Ahern said: "It is clear that there have been catastrophic failures in policy towards Iraq. But while there are extremely important lessons to be learned from these past failures, the focus has to be above all on the present and future."
He warned that progress was only possible if shared political institutions were developed, existing territorial borders respected and inter-communal reconciliation promoted.
"None of us can afford the further brutalisation, division and isolation of the historic nation of Iraq," he added.
In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Ahern also said the volatile situation across the Middle East continued to represent the greatest single threat to world peace and that a comprehensive settlement was more urgently needed than at any time over the past 60 years.
He added that it was the most significant foreign policy challenge facing the European Union and was also at the top of Ireland's foreign policy agenda and was regularly pursued by the Government at EU and UN level.
He pointed out that Ireland along with other EU countries was providing the backbone of the new UNIFIL force policing a truce brokered after last summer's month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
"We will be ready to meet the challenge, and Ireland will play its part," Mr Ahern added.
The Fianna Fáil leader also said Ireland was proud of the "magnificent role" being played in Irish society by members of its 40,000-strong Islamic community.
He said he looked forward to the full involvement of the representatives of the Islamic community in the proposed structured dialogue between the Government and the churches and faith which will begin in the coming weeks.
