The Hindu : National : Iraq situation grave: British Foreign Secretary

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Saturday, Nov 04, 2006
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Iraq situation grave: British Foreign Secretary

Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Nearly three-and-a-half years after the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett described the security situation in that country as "grave." She was speaking at a public function here on Friday.

Ms. Beckett said no one had quite anticipated the explosion of sectarian hatred in the West Asian nation. Without naming anyone, she said those perpetrating the violence were not on the side of the Iraqi people.

Ms. Beckett, who defended the Blair Government during a recent debate in the British Parliament, spoke on the theme of global challenges, but preferred not to get into a debate on the Iraq issue.

She supported India's civilian nuclear "aspirations," but in the same breath spoke of the need to work together to address the twin challenges of nuclear waste and proliferation.

She acknowledged that there was a special responsibility on developed nations to take a lead in addressing the challenges of climate change. "Historically, we have been responsible for the majority of greenhouse emissions. Now, we will have to bear a greater portion of the cost."

"But no country — either developed or developing — should see such action just as a sacrifice. Moving to a low carbon economy does not mean taking a step backwards. It is a leap forwards," she said.

Denying that developed nations had a "hidden agenda" when it came to climate change issues, she pointed out that India imported 70 per cent of its crude oil at a cost of over $40 billion a year.

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