The new UN resolution on Iraqi sanctions, Iraq unfazed
Iraq, Politics, 12/18/1999

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has reasserted Iraq's opposition to the UN Security Council resolution passed yesterday that could suspend sanctions for temporary but renewable 120-day terms in exchange for Iraqi cooperation Security Council requirements, the Iraqi News Agency reported.

The resolution, which passed the 15 member Security Council vote yesterday despite the abstention of Malaysia, China, France, and Russia.

A UN Statement said that under the terms of the resolution, the Secretary-General was requested to appoint, within 30 days, an Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC who would submit an organizational plan for UNMOVIC within 45 days of his appointment. The Executive Chairman is to report every three months on the work of UNMOVIC. He should report immediately when the reinforced system of ongoing monitoring and verification was fully operational in Iraq. Also, the Secretary-General was also asked to appoint experts to a College of Commissioners for UNMOVIC, which would meet regularly to review the implementation of relevant Council resolutions and to advise the Executive Chairman.

The Council requested the Executive Chairman and the Director General of the IAEA to establish a unit which would be responsible for the export/import mechanism established to ensure that Iraq did not reconstitute its weapons of mass destruction programmes. The Council also asked the Executive Chairman to resume the revision and updating of the lists of items and technology to which the mechanism applies.

Under other terms of the resolution, the Council decided that Hajj pilgrimage flights that do not transport cargo into or out of Iraq, will be exempt from travel restrictions, provided timely notification of each flight was made to the Sanctions Committee. The Council spelled out the Government of Iraq's responsibilities in the distribution of humanitarian goods and asked the Secretary- General to report on the progress made in meeting humanitarian needs. Further, the Council also requested the Secretary-General to establish a group of experts to report within 100 days on Iraq's existing petroleum production and export capacity and to recommend alternatives for increasing Iraq's oil production and export capacity. The report would also include recommendations on the options for involving foreign oil companies in Iraq's oil sector.

The Council further requested the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of today's resolution within 30 days.

The Russian Federation told the Council that the fact that his country did not block this imperfect resolution did not mean that it was obliged to go along with a forceful implementation of it. Iraq must fulfil its obligations, but the Council must act in an unbiased manner. It must not let its work become politicized. He was not trying to whitewash Iraq, but a repetition of the previous situation was unacceptable.

The United States said his country expected all Council members, regardless of their vote, to press Iraq for full and immediate implementation. The United States would closely monitor Iraq's response but it was not seeking an excuse to use force. Iraq held the key to its re-entry into the community of nations, but its history of "cheat and retreat" with weapons inspectors meant it could expect no benefit of the doubt. He supported the provision to exempt from sanctions air travel by Hajj pilgrims but opposed easing restrictions on air travel, as it would complicate the task of sanctions enforcement.

France's representative said there seemed to be a refusal to end the isolation of the Iraqi people. The resolution did not allow the resumption of aviation traffic and did not provide any real exemption for religious purposes, since that was dependent on the Sanctions Committee. Sanctions were striking at the people of Iraq, and the Council could not abandon its responsibility in the face of that humanitarian disaster. The text was ambiguous on criteria for suspending and lifting sanctions, and thus gave rise to different interpretations.

China's representative questioned whether the resolution could be implemented. If Iraq could not see light at the end of the tunnel, why would it comply and cooperate? he asked. Iraq was obligated to implement the relevant Council resolutions, but the Council, too, must implement its resolutions honourably, and objectively assess Iraq¹s implementation and lift or suspend sanctions accordingly. If the new Commission reported positively on Iraq¹s cooperation, the sanctions should be suspended automatically. The Council must exercise absolute control over the new inspection commission. The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) had misled the Council and acted without its authorization.

The representative of the United Kingdom said the Council must ensure that its decisions were not diluted by defiance. The resolution preserved disarmament standards for Iraq, established a new monitoring arrangement and met humanitarian concerns. Most significantly, it set out a series of clear, logical steps to bring Iraq out of sanctions and back into the international community. The Council had the policy it needed.

Malaysia's representative regretted that his proposal to hear Iraq's views before taking action on the text had not been accommodated. Engaging Iraq, rather than demonizing it, would serve the best interests of all. The resolution was driven by political, rather than humanitarian considerations. It had left out the important issue of financial modalities and was vague about triggering suspension of sanctions. Any ongoing monitoring and verification system should take into account Iraq's dignity as an independent sovereign State, as well as religious and cultural sensitivities.

Kuwait's representative said the resolution demonstrated that the Council wanted to carry out its Charter responsibilities. Kuwait continued to be concerned about Iraq's failure to release prisoners of war and restore Kuwaiti property stolen during the occupation; and the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Kuwait sympathized completely with the people of Iraq; the Government of Iraq alone was responsible for their suffering.

However, Iraq maintains that it has fulfilled the requirements set out by the UN. INA reported that Aziz asserted that Iraq has completed its requirements and that the sanctions should be lifted completely. It said Aziz characterized the US and UK aim behind the resolution as deceiving international public opinion, and characterized the expectations of Iraq contained in the text as ambiguous.

"The strict and mysterious conditions imposed on the fallacious suspension of sanctions are new terms not mentioned in previous resolutions, yet inserted to empty any suspension, even if it happens, of its content, consequently bringing no serious benefit to Iraq. They also involve severe restrictions on Iraq's sovereignty over its economy and resources," INA quoted Aziz as saying.

He added, "We were hopeful that some permanent members with balanced positions along months of deliberations would have vetoed this resolution, however, we appreciate their abstentions," leveling criticism at Bahrain, the current Arab representative to the UN Security Council, who voted in favor of the resolution, for not representing the Arab stance during its tenure on the council.

Previous Stories:
  UN Security Council approves resolution on Iraq sanctions suspension, weapons inspection   (12/17/1999)
  France: Progress in Security Council draft resolution on Iraq insufficient   (12/17/1999)
  Iraq urges France and Russia to reject United Nations resolution   (12/13/1999)

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