Copeland: Let's push for peace

United Future Whip Gordon Copeland today called upon Prime Minister Helen Clark to back the French/German plan to avert a looming war in Iraq.

"New Zealand can take that step now to join the international pressure for a peaceful solution, achieving what needs to be achieved through diplomacy and international pressure, rather than guns and bombs," he said.

Rather than walking the fine line that the Government is trying to tread neither backing America nor clearly standing apart from it, it should come out clearly for the French/German alternative, he said.

"There is too much at stake here. The American approach is the wrong approach at this point. We should not hesitate to do what needs to be done.

"Wouldn't it be fantastic if the next generation of Iraqis grew up with the knowledge that, in their hour of crisis, the international community had acted to bring them food and medicine?"

"The presence of a UN peacekeeping force in Iraq will not only aid an enlarged team of weapons inspectors, but it would also provide an opportunity for the international community to ensure that food and medical supplies can be made available to the children of Iraq," he said.

Mr Copeland took part in the Wellington peace march on Saturday.

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