Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 26 February 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq

Question: The Kurdish areas are one of the success stories in Iraq, but does the Minister accept that in other areas we have reached a tipping point between the Sunnis and Shi’a? It is time to look at the blueprint for Iraq and consider a three-state nation, perhaps based on the United Arab Emirates.

Answer: In my view, and much more importantly, in the view of the Iraqi people and their Government, the break-up of Iraq is not in their best interests. The constitutional arrangement allows for federalism, if that is what the hon. Gentleman is referring to, in some circumstances, but the Iraqis need to work through that matter. As I told his hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh), that is what politics is all about in Iraq. We need to support the people of Iraq and their Government in the menu of political challenges that they have set themselves, and not undermine their ability to see that through to the end.

Secondary information