§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What notice they had of President Bush's decision to receive the Iraqi Foreign Minister and to send Secretary of State Baker to Baghdad; and whether there are to be other interested parties present on either of these occasions; and if not why not.
§ Lord ReayWe received prior notice of President Bush's initiative for direct contacts with Iraq. The format of these encounters is for the Americans and Iraqis to agree. We welcome the United States initiative which is designed to increase the peaceful pressures on Iraq and reinforce the need for compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.