(2 Jun 2003) SHOTLIST
1. Blair walks into news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) British Prime Minister Tony Blair:
"I stand absolutely 100 percent behind the evidence, based on intelligence, that we presented to people and let me make one or two things clear: firstly, the idea that we doctored intelligence reports to invent some notion about a 45 minute capability of delivering weapons of mass destruction, the idea that we doctored such intelligence is completely and totally false. Every single piece of intelligence that we presented was cleared very properly by the joint intelligence committee. Secondly, the idea that apparently Clare Short (minister who resigned) is saying, that I made some secret agreement with George Bush back last September that we would invade Iraq in any event, at a particular time, is also completely and totally untrue. What I've explained to people is that we are five to six weeks after the end of the conflict. The first priority has been to re-establish the basic humanitarian services for people in Iraq. In relations to weapons of mass destruction, there is an international survey group that is going in - actually starting its work this week - they will be interviewing scientists and experts, they will be investigating the sites. When we accumulate that evidence properly we will give it to people."
3. Wide shot of news conference
4. SOUNDBITE (English) British Prime Minister Tony Blair:
"In relation to global health, and in particular the global fight against HIV AIDS, there is a commitment by Europe to match the commitment by the United States in order to significantly increase the amount of funding we are going to put into the global health fund and also the fight against HIV AIDS, which is the present scourge of the African continent. In respect of conflict resolution and peacekeeping, there will be agreement to the plan to develop an African peacekeeping capability over the next few years in accordance with a plan that's been drawn up, led by the United Nations. That is a very important step forward; it means in the future when there are issues such as the Congo which arise, or Sierra Leone, there will actually be an indigenous capacity in order to resolve these conflicts and in order to keep the peace."
5. Wide shot of news conference
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) British Prime Minister Tony Blair:
"The reason why President Bush is leaving (the summit early), there is a reason which is understood by everybody, that the Middle East peace process is now moving forward. This is of fantastic importance - a few months ago if you'd said at these press conferences, if I'd said that President Bush will be seeing Palestinian leaders and Israeli leaders out in the region in order to push the Middle East peace process forward, I think most of you would have said I was being extremely, if not wildly optimistic. It's happening and it goes with the full support of the G8 members. Also in relation to the tensions, well of course there were tensions during the Iraq war - we had a fundemental disagreement - but it's interesting that in the United Nations, we've come back together now and in the discussions that we're having on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction I think you'll find that there is general agreement, I think you will find that it's a pretty strong statement that comes out from the G8 countries and there is a general acceptance that this is a significant and serious issue."
7. Blair walks out of news conference
STORYLINE
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