SIR Edward Heath has called on Britain to resume diplomatic links with
Iraq.
The former Prime Minister's appeal came within 48 hours of his
successful mission to Baghdad to secure the release of three Britons who
were serving long prison sentences for allegedly straying over the Iraqi
border or for visa offences.
Sir Edward said the Russian charge d'affaires was looking after
British interests in Iraq and doing the job perfectly well. ''But why do
our activities have to be handled by the Russian charge?'' he asked in a
BBC radio interview.
''Our ambassador in Amman and his staff do everything they can from
outside. It is not the same thing as being there on the spot and being
able to use our judgment about what is going on.''
Mr Heath said he wanted to make sure that the United Nations
resolutions were fulfilled, but said of sanctions imposed after the Gulf
War: ''This action does not make Saddam's people hostile to him. It puts
them on his side because they resent very strongly the way they are
being treated.''
Sir Edward said talks should start with Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi Deputy
Prime Minister, about a solution.
''I can quite understand American resentment that they did not get rid
of Saddam. But this is a fact of life.''
He added that Iraq's 20 million people were ''desperately in need of
humanitarian assistance''.
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