Ahern dismisses call to snub Bush

The Taoiseach rejected a suggestion that he should snub President Bush in the White House tomorrow because of the Iraq crisis.

Mr Ahern said that he respected the United States and its President. "I respect what it stands for in the free world. I appreciate what it has done for this country," he added.

"I appreciate its friendship, including that of the United Kingdom. I differ on this issue. I will set out my point of view and stand with the United Nations, as I have done since I met Kofi Annan and made my first statement on the issue in Johannesburg on September 4th. However, I will not insult the United States."

Mr Ahern was responding to Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West), who asked him to send a message to the world "that this country is absolutely opposed to the bloody adventure that is about to unfold at the expense of the Iraqi people by boycotting the visit to President Bush and, at least, as I have asked him before, to leave the shamrock at home".

Mr Higgins suggested that Mr Ahern, instead, should "bring a branch of fuchsia, because at least the bright red flowers will signify the blood of innocent thousands of people that the man receiving the shamrock is about to spill".

Mr Ahern said that the Government was deeply concerned at recent developments. "Our goal remains the goal of the United Nations, which is the disarming of the Iraqi regime by peaceful means if at all possible," he said. "That is the unanimous determination of the Security Council in Resolution 1441 of November 8th. Ireland helped to fashion that resolution. Regrettably, efforts to implement this resolution have led to tensions, including within the Security Council."

This, Mr Ahern added, was of considerable regret to countries such as Ireland which looked to the UN to serve the interests of all mankind by being a legitimate guarantor of international peace and security.

If the Security Council could prevail without the need for further death and suffering, so much the better, and that was what the Government would like to see happen.

"I agree with Deputy Higgins that that is what the vast majority of Irish people would like to see," Mr Ahern added. "Peaceful methods are always the preferred option and should be fully explored."