European Parliament.
We earnestly hope for a
breakthrough. The choice I am afraid may be a very
simple one: development or decay.
[Response to any points raised on European Community,
arms control and East/West relations.]
Gulf War
I would now like to turn to the world outside Europe
and to problems and issues in which Britain has a
direct interest. Your Lordships will share my concern
about the risks of further escalation in the Gulf War.
The suffering inflicted on the civilian population of
both Iran and Iraq is deplorable. I hope both sides
will refrain from taking any steps which widen or
deepen the conflict.
We have to recognise however that the influence of
outside parties is very limited. But the Government is
doing what it can. We support the activities of the UN
Secretary General to open a channel for effective
mediation. In accordance with our policy of strict
neutrality we have not supplied lethal military to
either side. And we have certainly not supplied Iraq
with chemical weapons as was alleged recently. The
Government is in touch with friendly states to ensure
that freedom of navigation through the Straits of
Hormuz can be maintained. And finally our missions in
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