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20 March, 2003
In the first May 1st march in which I participated in Sweden, back in 1966, I was asked to carry the flag of the United Nations which, together with the Swedish flag and the red flag of the SAP (Social Democratic Party), opened the march through the streets of Gothenburg.
I felt proud as never before to be a citizen of the world.
I believe that democracy and democratic institutions should rule the world on behalf of its people.
The UN is not the most democratic institution, but it is the best we have for the moment. The whole UN system -- with the ILO, UNCTAD, UNDP, FAO, WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNESCO -- was set up to create an international system of laws and norms through dialogue and discussion.
It was also meant to be a system in which every country, small or big, would have a say.
To erode the whole system by ignoring or acting contrary to resolutions and norms is to take a great deal of responsibility for the disorder we can expect when the world will again be ruled by the law of the jungle.
Saddam Hussein's criminal regime must be disarmed. The Iraqi people deserve democracy and freedom, no doubt about it. Saddam has not complied with the UN resolutions, and by doing so he has undermined the authority of the UN system.
That is why the international community, through the UN, is justified in taking action against him. But no country has the right to unilaterally attack any other, except in self-defense!
Moreover, why should the people of Iraq pay for the sin's of the dictator? And make no mistake about it, they will have to pay a heavy price for the war they are now forced to endure.
Are the 12 years of suffering imposed on them by the embargo not enough? Let's not forget that the UN embargo and economic sanctions were undermined by ruthless economic interests of developed countries which violated them.
The UN inspectors were making progress when they were stopped by the arrogant acts of George W. Bush, Tony Blair and José Maria Aznar. By doing so, the three leaders betrayed the world community and its UN system.
But they are not the only ones, unfortunately.
The Israeli government has been ignoring UN resolutions for decades and, in the last two years under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has made this lamentable record even worse. In addition, Sharon is fighting any effort to bring peace to the Middle East through the UN.
We are at a very critical point, and that is why we need to mobilise all people to support all leaders who continue to believe that the blue flag of the United Nations is the only one which can bring peace and security.
Stop the war now.