Interviewer
As we noted earlier, the United Nations has been holding a World Summit on children in New York this week and seventy world leaders are in town for the conference, including the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher, who is with me this morning. Good morning, Mrs. Thatcher!
Prime Minister
Good morning!
Interviewer
The Summit came up with a ten point plan of ways to improve the lot of children in this world. Realistically, how many of those points stand a chance of being acted on in the next two or three years? [end p1]
Prime Minister
I think we have got to act on them but I think people must not think that UNICEF and governments are taking over everything—they are not. The responsibilities of parents are paramount and what we do is to help them to discharge those responsibilities better.
One of the most obvious things is to send immunisation shots around the world so that children do not suffer from the most terrible diseases.
Interviewer
I suspect that there was plenty of not only hallway-talk but dinner conversation about another crisis the world faces, which is the situation in the Middle East.
There has been some talk that certain countries will be going through the UN Security Council for authorisation for use of force in the event that becomes necessary in this situation. You had dinner with President Bush last night, did that come up in your conversation?
Prime Minister
We already have legitimate authority to use force under Article 51 of the United Nations, so we would not need to go to the United Nations for any further authority—it is already there. [end p2]
Interviewer
What, then, would be provocation in which that force would be used if the authority is already there?
Prime Minister
That is a matter, I think, for the countries that are there jointly to decide. I would have thought, you know, that when one country has already invaded another, treated its people abominably, turned many people out, taken hostages, offended all of the diplomatic agreements, that itself brands him as an aggressor.
We have chosen to put pressure on him through sanctions and we will see if those work. We still have the military option behind us, but we have the full legal authority already. We do not need to go to the United Nations to get more. Whether or not we should do so is a matter which is being discussed.
Interviewer
There is some talk in the Administration and I suspect elsewhere, that sanctions may not work. How long does one stay with the embargo before moving to the next step which I presume is the military option?
Prime Minister
I am often asked that and one just cannot say—you have to judge it week by week. But also, may I make this point: if the military option has to be used, our first duty as Prime Minister—even more as President—is to the forces on the ground who will [end p3] be right in the front line and it does not help them to discuss the “how” and “when”. All it does is to help the aggressor.
Interviewer
It is interesting for people to hear your reaction to Saddam Hussein 's statement yesterday that he might be willing to discuss the possibility of withdrawing and in this particular case, he did not mention that he would have to retain the territory that he has taken in Kuwait. Is this a wavering of his position or more of the mixed signals we have heard?
Prime Minister
Saddam HusseinHe is under instruction from the United Nations to withdraw; he is under instruction to withdraw immediately and the legitimate government of Kuwait to go back, so it is not a question of him volunteering—he is under instruction.
Interviewer
But those … have been in place for quite some time.
Prime Minister
Yes, indeed, but they, in fact, must be carried out. We are not negotiating. There is nothing to negotiate about. He has to get out, the legitimate government has to go back and then we will consider the terrible mess which he has left, because you would not [end p4] expect, if someone took over your house and left it in a terrible mess, to be without compensation.
We will also have to consider, as we have indicated, some of the terrible crimes that have been committed and which people must be brought to justice for those.
Interviewer
And what is the proper forum for these discussions once the situations are put to bed—and who knows when that is going to be—the United Nations, a special international council?
Prime Minister
No. The forum for reparations would be between the country which has been invaded and the invader and all of us backing up Kuwait.
Interviewer
Saddam Hussein has often said that that one of his pre-conditions if you will, would be that the situation not return to that which it was previous to August 2nd, which one can take to mean that Shaikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabahthe Emir not be restored to the throne. Is that a negotiable point?
Prime Minister
Saddam HusseinHe is not in a condition to lay down pre-conditions. He declared war on a country by invading, going in by tanks, guns, aircraft, destroying people's lives, taking their territory and [end p5] behaving abominably. He is in no condition to lay down any pre-conditions. He is told to get out and get out he must! He is told by the United Nations that the legitimate government must be restored, so that is that!
Interviewer
And is there a time-frame for the “that is that”?
Prime Minister
There is not a specific time-frame for “that is that” and if there were, I would not discuss it with you for the reasons I have already indicated. Our first duty if the military option had to be used, is to our armed forces and it does not help them to have these things discussed.
Interviewer
What about the unification of Germany which officially takes place tomorrow? For forty years, there has been a divided Germany and there has been peace. Is there concern that that could change with the unification?
Prime Minister
Germany is going to be unified. The full Germany will be a member of the European Community and so we must go ahead and incorporate her and accept it and accept her cooperation as she has, in fact, been a staunch member of NATO for a very long time. [end p6]
Interviewer
Margaret Thatcher, I know you are heading back to London tonight. We thank you for starting your day with us.
Prime Minister
Thank you!