Excerpt [SPEECH/02/430]
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 26/ 09/ 2002
 The Rt Hon Chris Patten Commissioner for External Relations Statement on the European Parliament Report on Progress Achieved in the Implementation of Common Foreign and Security Policy
 
(...) Regarding Iraq I told this House earlier this month that we must continue to press for full Iraqi compliance with the UN resolutions. The fundamental points are that we must respect the authority of the United Nations and international law. We have to monitor closely whether inspections can be carried out without excuses, without prevarication, without ifs and buts. The political acion is at present in New York and this is exactly where it should be. (...)