§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are inclined to accept the "demand" from the Arab Foreign Ministers, meeting in Cairo last weekend, that "military operations against Iraq" be not repeated; and whether (a) Kuwait, (b) Saudi Arabia and (c) Turkey are content that the United States and the United Kingdom should continue to use their territory from which to carry out military operations over Iraq. [HL788]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanHer Majesty's Government share the wish of the Arab League to find a diplomatic way forward on Iraq. In this respect we welcome the agreement reached in the Security Council on 30 January. We look to Baghdad to co-operate so that the progress we would all like to see can be achieved. But we have made clear that we remain ready to take further military action if Iraq attempts to reconstitute its weapons of mass destruction or threatens its neighbours.
We enjoy good relations with the governments in the region who generously host RAF detachments. Our aircraft could not operate from their territory without their consent.