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Proceeding contribution from Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Friday, 18 March 2011. It occurred during Ministerial statement on UN Security Council Resolution (Libya).


UN Security Council Resolution (Libya)

The hon. Gentleman puts the point extremely well. I agree that there should be regular statements updating the House. We should start with a debate on Monday on a substantive motion, so that Members can debate that, and propose amendments if they want. We will be putting down that substantive motion later today, so that colleagues can have a look at it. On taking the country with us, the hon. Gentleman's point about legality is vital. We have a legal basis here—the UN, the world's governing body, coming together and making that clear—and we need to explain that what we are doing is legal, proportionate and right. But I also believe that, as I said a moment ago, to take people with us we have to make the arguments both that it is wrong to stand aside as this dictator massacres his own people and it is in our interests to act, and also that it is in our national interest, because we do not want this pariah state on our borders. The point the hon. Gentleman makes about no ground troops and no occupying force is vital. That is in the UN Security Council resolution; it is the reassurance that we can give to people that that is not part of our aims—it is not want the UN wants, it is not what the Arab League wants, it is not what Britain wants. That is clearly a limitation on our ability to act, but it is absolutely right, and I think people will be reassured by it.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
525 c620-1 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Demonstrations Armed conflict Human rights Humanitarian aid Politics and government Violence UN resolutions Sanctions Civil disorder Libya Military intervention UN Security Council League of Arab States Gaddafi, Muammar Ceasefires
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk