Our people have received with relief the news of the cessation of the aggressive American and British raids, which have left behind after four days many dead and wounded among civilians, and widespread destruction in many residential areas and civilian installations.
While sharing these feelings of relief with our people, we join them in applauding the position of the Arab and world public opinion which has rejected the use of force and called for dealing with existing problems by peaceful means.
Public pressure in support of our Iraqi people, which expressed sympathy with our people and their cause rather than the dictatorial regime, played an effective role in putting an end to the brutal bombing.
Meanwhile, however, we share with our people the feelings of deep concern for their continued extensive ordeal, and the fact that there is no change with regard to the aggravated crisis between the Iraqi regime, on one hand, and the United Nations and the US, on the other hand.
The cessation of the missile and air strikes has not put an end to this state of affairs. The threat by the American administration to revert to military aggression, based on its long-term objectives and universal strategy, does not bode well or give hope for bringing nearer our people’s salvation from their aggravated and prolonged suffering.
Deep concern is caused, on the other hand by the persistence of Baghdad’s dictatorial rulers in their policy of deceit and maneuvering, and their concern first and foremost with staying in power no matter what this cost, even if it meant the destruction of Iraq as people and country, both its present and future!
The need is more urgent than ever before for a decisive end to our people’s tragedy, which has been aggravated by the recent aggressive military operations, and for employing just solutions and adopting profound and urgent measures, which ensure:
Lifting the international economic sanction from our people.
Supporting the people’s will and efforts for salvation from the dictatorship and establishing a democratic pluralistic regime in a unified federal Iraq.
Resolving existing problems with peaceful diplomatic means, instead of the military option and armed aggression.
Activating and relying on legality and law, and rejecting the means of diktat and hegemony practiced by the US and Britain.
The tragedy which is crushing our people, as a result of economic sanctions, external aggression and criminal policy of the ignorant and impotent dictatorial regime, puts the patriotic opposition parties and forces of our people, once again, in front of their historic responsibility; that of mobilizing their potentials, using their efforts and preparing the prerequisites for leading our people out of their ordeal and getting rid of those responsible for their tragedy.