10 November 2003
Prime Minister Tony Blair has called the alliance with America and membership of the European Union the ‘twin pillars of Britain’s place in the world’.
"Both are necessary. Both complement each other," Mr Blair said in his speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet. "Take either away and Britain is weaker for it."
American and European co-operation should astonish no-one, he said. Eurosceptics and anti-Americans were mistaken.
"Europe and America share the same values; are bound inextricably by history and culture; and now more than ever, are into each others ribs in business, trade and commerce.
"The agenda for partnership between Europe and America needs our alliance to be full-blooded and whole-hearted," he said.
Mr Blair said he believes this is exactly the right time for President Bush to make a State Visit to the United Kingdom. He added that it is people’s democratic right to protest against the visit:
"Attack the decision to go to war, though have the integrity to realise that without it, those Iraqis now tasting freedom would still be under the lash of Saddam, his sons and their henchmen."
The Prime Minister said that Iraq is a battle of ’seminal importance’ for the early 21st Century. He said it would define relations between the Muslim World and the West.
"It will influence profoundly the development of Arab States and the Middle East. It will have far-reaching implications for the future conduct of American and Western diplomacy."
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