C18 Middle East peace
Motions 79 and amendments, 80 and 81
Congress believes that to secure peace and security in the Middle East all national governments must abide by international law and the primacy of the United Nations. Congress calls for measures through the world community to achieve the withdrawal of UK and US military forces from Iraq; to reconstruct Iraq after the devastation of war; and to ensure that the Iraqi people have the right to self-determination.
Congress should use its best endeavours to support independent trade union organisations in Iraq and throughout the region.
Congress recognises that there has been the destruction of much of Iraq’s infrastructure whilst billions of dollars of contracts for work in Iraq have been awarded to multinationals. Congress believes that basic infrastructure must be rebuilt, including as a necessity the provision of food, water and shelter. Congress believes that there is an urgent need for medical and humanitarian aid and recognises that one of the first medical issues is to help provide the necessary supplies for hospitals to function, and that this is made all the more urgent because of the backlog of problems in such areas as vaccinations for children following many years of sanctions against the previous regime. Congress also believes that every effort should be made to re-open schools in Iraq.
Congress believes that it is for the nations of the Middle East to determine the regimes under which they live. Congress therefore condemns any unilateral political or military act of aggression that would destabilise this volatile region and increase the threat of terrorism.
Delegates at last year’s Congress correctly argued war could not be justified because there was no credible proof of weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems such that Iraq posed an imminent threat. Congress believes that the language used in the war has heightened the problems of racism in the UK.
Congress also calls for the full application of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the termination of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and of the settlements policy. Congress also urges the renunciation and cessation of all acts of violence either by States or by terrorist groups.
Congress believes that the peace plan known as the ‘Road Map to Peace’ must recognise the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and refugees. Congress further believes that all sides must engage through the UN in constructive and meaningful negotiation to ensure a political settlement in the Middle East that establishes an independent Palestinian State alongside Israel and a just and lasting peace throughout the region. Congress believes Israel’s apartheid wall in the West Bank is incompatible with a viable Palestinian State and calls for an immediate halt in construction.
Congress further calls on the General Council and TUC affiliates to support both the Histadrut in Israel and the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions in their attempts to resume and strengthen their dialogue and co-operation for the benefit of citizens in all countries of the Middle East.
Congress:
i) condemns the British and US Governments’ unilateral decision to wage war on Iraq;
ii) opposes any future attempts by the US to target independent states such as Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba for regime change;
iii) resolves to take a leading role in promoting world peace;
iv) calls for work through the United Nations for the withdrawal without delay of Coalition troops and for control of Iraq to be given to the Iraqi people;
v) calls on the international community, and the UK and US Governments in particular, to be generous in giving immediate aid to help rebuild the social and public-service infrastructure; to help alleviate the situation of the people and, in particular, the children of Iraq; to re-equip the schools and to provide materials for children to use in schools; and to rebuild the trade union movement of Iraq;
vi) calls on the General Council to support international aid and assistance to the maximum; and
vii) continues to campaign for justice for the Palestinian people.
Mover:
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Seconder:
National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers
Supporters:
The Educational Institute of Scotland
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
National Union of Mineworkers
 http://www.tuc.org.uk/congress/tuc-7043-f0.cfm?theme=congress2003
 http://politics.guardian.co.uk/unions/story/0,12189,1039708,00.html