MFA Spokesman's Comments In Response to Media Queries About Singapore's Reaction to President George W Bush's Statement

MFA SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS

In response to media queries about Singapore's reaction to President George W Bush's statement, the MFA Spokesman said:

"Singapore's position on the Iraq issue has been set out fully in Foreign Minister Jayakumar's speech to Parliament on 14 March.

It would have been preferable for the UN to have again explicitly authorised military action against Iraq. It is unfortunate that events have turned out otherwise. But we should not lose sight of the fact that it was the Iraqi authorities' persistent defiance of international law and Security Council resolutions that have led to the current situation.

Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously, made it clear that Iraq had to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Security Council. Iraq has been repeatedly warned that it would face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of this obligation. We hope that Iraq would seize what little time is left to avert a war.

But the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses a grave threat to international order that cannot be ignored. The failure of the Security Council to reach a new consensus on a second resolution cannot be taken as an excuse for inaction."

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 MARCH 2003