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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support he has received from Poland in respect of the United Kingdom's stance in relation to the crisis with Iraq. [30559] Mr. George Robertson: I took the opportunity to exchange views with Dr. Janusz Onyszkiewicz, the Polish Defence Minister, during his visit to the UK, from 10 to 12 February, on the crisis in Iraq which has been caused by Saddam Hussein's failure to comply with Security Council resolutions and to cooperate with UNSCOM. The Government and Poland are clear that the highest priority must be on a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, the Polish Government support the UK's position that, in the last resort, it may be necessary to consider military action. In that event, the Polish Government have indicated that they would be prepared to make a military contribution, and would be ready to deploy chemical defence specialists to the region. Dr. Onyszkiewicz and I issued a joint press statement to this effect on 11 February. Poland is one of a growing number of countries which has either deployed forces to the Gulf to operate alongside US and UK forces or is planning to do so. The precise details of national contributions are properly a matter for the countries concerned, but we understand that Australia already has tanker aircraft and an advance party of troops in the Gulf; that warships from Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium are en route; that New Zealand is planning to deploy troops and surveillance aircraft; and that Denmark, Argentina, Romania, Poland and Norway have indicated they would make military contributions to the coalition. This list is expected to grow. In addition, many of the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Turkey, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Hungary and the Czech Republic are either providing basing and support for coalition forces or have offered to do so.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

30559; 306 c828W;306 c826W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Armed forces Deployment Iraq Foreign relations Poland