KNIGHT... we hope that all peaceful measures will be pursued

JAMAICA has urged Iraq to "comply fully" with United Nations (UN) inspectors who are searching for weapons of mass destruction in that Arab country, and has called for a peaceful resolution to the situation in the face of a threat by the United States of a military attack on Iraq.

"Jamaica is... concerned at the prospect of war in that region," Foreign Minister KD Knight told diplomats yesterday at the ministry's New Kingston offices, where they were updated on Jamaica's foreign policy objectives and priorities for the new year.

"We hope that all peaceful measures will be pursued and that necessary restraint will be applied in seeking resolution of the situation," said Knight, echoing a call this week by the leaders of France and Germany for the UN weapons inspectors to be given more time to complete their search.

The position of France and Germany contrasts with that of Britain, whose prime minister, Tony Blair has publicly sided with US President George W Bush in threatening Iraq's President Saddam Hussein with a military attack if he does not turn over alleged weapons of mass destruction.

But yesterday Colin Powell, US secretary of state, declared that his country was prepared to attack Iraq without the support of other member countries of the UN Security Council.

At the same time, Knight noted that Jamaica shared a "growing concern over the erosion of multilateralism with the increasing marginalisation of the United Nations in critical international matters".

"Consequently we urge member states to continue to reinforce the UN's position as the primary decision- making body in international affairs," he added.

Meanwhile, the Jamaican foreign minister called on the Israeli Government and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to return to the negotiating table, noting that "no other conflict so threatens world peace".

"Our view continues to be," said Knight, "that the only solution is a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbours in the region, including Lebanon and Syria." He suggested that the basis for such a solution was to be found in the UN Security Council's resolution and the proposals by other players including Egypt and the Arab League.

Declared Knight: "We support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and Palestine's right to statehood. We also support Israel's right to exist within secure and recognised borders in conformity with relevant UN resolutions.

Knight also appealed to the Government of North Korea "to resist the temptation" to join the so-called 'nuclear club'. Knight made the appeal against the background of Jamaica's opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the technology for the manufacture of these weapons.

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