Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Iraq, G8, PM Security and Saudi Arabia.
Iraq
Asked for an update on the UN Resolution on Iraq, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that as he had told journalists this morning, genuine progress had been made. This had been helped enormously by the input of the Iraqi Prime Minister and Foreign Minister over the weekend. However, we wanted to see a genuine consensus. The text of the Resolution would therefore be put to the vote once we believed we had the best chance of the Resolution being passed. We did not think that would be very long. He was unable to put a more precise timescale on the process because, as we knew from past experience, the UN had a habit of proving predictions wrong.
G8
Asked again what we were expecting the big issues to be at the G8 Summit in Georgia this week, the PMOS said that as he had told journalists this morning, the broader Middle East was of primary concern to G8 members. We were interested in practical ways we could assist with the reform agenda - whether economically, educationally or politically - but done in a way which would not impose solutions from outside. Other big issues expected to be raised included Africa where the agenda, started at Evian, would continue all the way through to the UK’s Presidency of the G8 next year. Part of those discussions would relate to the issue of peacekeeping. Debt was also likely to be discussed, as it had been a particular concern to the G8. Questioned further about other items on the agenda, the PMOS pointed out that the Summit was an informal meeting where other issues of concern to people could also be raised.
Asked if the Prime Minister had had preliminary discussions with other world leaders at the Normandy commemorations at the weekend, the PMOS said that informal discussions might have taken place in the margins. However, the purpose of the events had been to commemorate the D-Day landings and the heroic actions of the war veterans. As such, the day had been a great success. Asked if the Prime Minister had taken the opportunity to discuss the issue of troop deployments with the President, the PMOS said not as far as he was aware. The position on that issue had not changed.
PM Security
Asked to expand on the Prime Minister’s comments in an interview with Time Out magazine, due to be published tomorrow, regarding his concerns about the creation of a barrier between the public and politicians following the recent flour attack in the House of Commons, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister’s view on this matter was clear. Difficult though it might be, it was important to achieve the right balance between protecting politicians properly on the one hand, and maintaining the accessibility of the public on the other. As the current campaigning for the forthcoming elections by all parties demonstrated, direct contact with the electorate was a tradition which was both valued and useful. It went without saying that no politician, from the Prime Minister down, would want such a practice to end. Asked if the Prime Minister was disappointed that the G8 Summit in Georgia would be taking place under such tight security, the PMOS said that the protests we had seen in recent years showed that security was clearly a problem. That was something to be regretted. Nevertheless, the G8 was still an important meeting as it dealt with the big, broad issues of concern. The outcomes and conclusions might not grab headlines on the day. However, they presented coherent strategies to tackle ‘unfashionable’ problems, such as debt, which could make a real difference to the developing world.
Saudi Arabia
Asked if there were any plans to strengthen the security advice for Britons working in Saudi Arabia, the PMOS said that the Foreign Office had already issued guidance stating that people should travel to Saudi Arabia only if it was essential to do so. The situation there would be kept under constant review, as you would expect. The PMOS added that, as he had told journalists this morning, our thoughts were with the families of Frank Gardner and Simon Cumbers. Those journalists who had been fortunate to come across Simon, both in Ireland and here, would know that he was a decent man and was someone who would be sadly missed.
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