[House Document 106-223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-223
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STATUS OF U.S. EFFORTS REGARDING IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH
UNSC RESOLUTIONS
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF EFFORTS TO OBTAIN IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C.
1541
April 12, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations
and ordered to be printed
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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-011 WASHINGTON : 2000
The White House,
Washington, April 10, 2000.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. Speaker: Consistent with the Authorization for Use
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1),
and as part of my effort to keep the Congress fully informed, I
am reporting on the status of efforts to obtain Iraq's
compliance with the resolutions adopted by the United Nations
Security Council. My last report, consistent with Public Law
102-1, was dated January 7, 2000. I shall continue to keep the
Congress informed about this important issue.
Sincerely,
William J. Clinton.
Status of U.S. Efforts Regarding Iraq's Compliance With UNSC
Resolutions
Overview
We are convinced that as long as Saddam Hussein remains in
power, he will continue to threaten the well-being of the Iraqi
people, the peace of the region, and vital U.S. interests. We
will continue to contain these threats, but over the long term
the best way to address them is through a new government in
Baghdad. To this end, we continue to work intensively with the
Iraqi opposition.
On December 17, 1999, the UN Security Council adopted
Resolution 1284. This comprehensive resolution, which addresses
disarmament, humanitarian and Kuwait-related issues, reaffirms
Iraq's failure to comply with existing UN Security Council
resolutions and its continuing obligation to do so. This
resolution establishes a new disarmament and monitoring regime,
the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission
(UMMOVIC). UNMOVIC maintains the same mandate, rights,
privileges, facilities and immunities as the UN Special
Commission (UNSCOM). This resolution also reaffirms the
International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) mandate in Iraq.
The resolution directs both inspection organizations to address
unresolved disarmament issues and to establish reinforced
systems of ongoing monitoring and verification. The resolution
also authorizes Iraq, under the UN's ``oil-for-food'' program,
to export as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs
and calls for other enhancements of the program. The resolution
calls for the appointment of a high-level coordinator to
monitor Iraqi compliance with its obligations to return stolen
Kuwaiti property, and to account for Kuwaiti and third-country
nationals.
If Iraq fulfills key disarmament tasks and cooperates with
inspectors for 120 days after reinforced monitoring is fully
operational, the Security Council could act to suspend
sanctions, provided appropriate controls are in place and
bearing in mind the humanitarian purposes of the Security
Council's decisions. The embargo on military imports would
remain in place, and dual-use items would continue to require
prior approval. The Security Council would have to renew
suspension every 120 days, and if Iraq ceased cooperation,
sanctions would be automatically reimposed.
The Maritime Interception Force
The maritime Multinational Interception Force (MIF)
continues to enforce UN sanctions in the Gulf. The United
States Government continues to approach potential participants
in the MIF to augment current partners.
Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
continue to provide logistical support and shipriders to the
MIF and to accept vessels diverted for violating UN sanctions
against Iraq. The smuggling of refined petroleum products
through the Gulf has reached record levels. Following a ten-
month cessation of smuggling through the Gulf after Operation
Desert Fox in December 1998, Iraq is now exporting over 100,000
barrels per day through the Gulf. This trade represents over
$40 million per month in uncontrolled revenue for the Iraqi
regime. The single most important factor contributing to the
increase in smuggling is the elevated price of oil and the
resulting incentive for the smuggler.
The MIF, and our ability to augment it rapidly, will
continue to serve as a critical deterrent to both the smuggling
of petroleum products out of Iraq, and the smuggling of
prohibited items into Iraq. On March 23, Vice Admiral Moore,
U.S. Navy, Coordinator of the Multinational Interception Force,
made a presentation to the United Nations Iraq Sanctions
Committee emphasizing the extent of current oil smuggling. In
addition to the high price of oil, he noted that complicity of
some Iranian officials plays a key role in successful
smuggling. The Security Council shares our concern about this
illicit activity and is also seeking to curtail it.
UNMOVIC/IAEA: Weapons of mass destruction
There have been no UN Security Council-mandated inspections
in Iraq since December 15, 1998. Iraq's defiance of the
international consensus as expressed by Resolution 1284 has
meant that no progress has been made in addressing Iraq's
outstanding disarmament obligations. Iraq remains in violation
of its disarmament obligations to end all programs to develop
weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. Despite
Iraq's defiance, it remains our intent to support UNMOVIC and
the IAEA as they work to carry out the Security Council's
mandate.
Dual-use imports
Aware of Iraq's history of threatening its neighbors and
its own people, the United States in the UN Iraq Sanctions
Committee carefully reviews all items proposed for sale to Iraq
to ensure that items which pose significant dual-use concerns
are not approved. Resolution 1051 established a joint UNSCOM/
IAEA unit to monitor Iraq's imports of allowed dual-use WMD
items (known as ``1051''-listed goods). Under UN Security
Council Resolution 1284, UNMOVIC has assumed this
responsibility from UNSCOM. Since weapons inspectors left Iraq
in December 1998, the only monitoring of the humanitarian
program is being conducted by UN Office of the Iraq Programme
inspectors. This situation has presented new challenges for the
UN Sanctions Committee and is a factor in our contract approval
process. Because of this situation, the United States has
placed holds on a number of dual-use contracts.
The UN's ``Oil-for-Food'' Program
We continue to support the international community's
efforts to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi
people through the ``oil-for-food'' program. In Resolution
1284, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export as much
oil as required to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi
population. Under UN control, the proceeds are used to purchase
humanitarian goods, to fund claims against Iraq arising out of
its invasion and occupation of Kuwait, and to meet UN
administrative costs. UN reporting as of January 11 indicates
that since the start of the ``oil-for-food'' program 7,321
contracts for humanitarian goods worth over $9.3 billion have
been approved. We view Resolution 1284 as a vehicle for robust
improvement of the humanitarian situation in Iraq and are eager
to see all aspects of it implemented as rapidly as possible.
The ``oil-for-food'' program maintains a separate program
for northern Iraq, administered directly by the United Nations
in consultation with the local authorities. This program, which
the United States strongly supports, ensures that when Iraq
contracts for the purchase of humanitarian goods, 13 percent of
the funds generated under the ``oil-for-food'' program are
spent on items for northern Iraq.
International humanitarian programs including, most
importantly, the ``oil-for-food'' program, have steadily
improved the life of the average Iraqi--the ration basket
provides 2,150 calories per day--and has led to improvements in
health care, water, sanitation, agriculture, education, and
other areas, while denying Saddam Hussein control over Iraq's
oil revenues.
We will continue to work with the UN Secretariat, the
Security Council, and others in the international community to
ensure that the implementation of Resolution 1284 better
enables the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people to be met
while denying political or economic benefits to the Baghdad
regime.
Northern Iraq: Kurdish reconciliation
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan (PUK) continue their efforts to implement
the September 17, 1998, reconciliation agreement. A State
Department delegation visited northern Iraq in February to
assess the state of KDP-PUK relations and to encourage more
rapid implementation of the 1998 agreement.
The parties remain engaged with one another and are
committed to addressing their issues peacefully through
continued negotiation. They work together effectively on many
fronts, including joint efforts to bring the needs of their
region to the attention of the United Nations and the
international community.
The human rights situation in Iraq
As reflected in the Department of State's Human Rights
Report for Iraq, released February 25, the human rights
situation in Iraq continues to fall severely short of
international norms. Resolution 688 expressly notes that the
consequences of the regime's repression of its own people
constitute a threat to international peace and security in the
region. It also demands immediate access by international
humanitarian aid organizations to all Iraqis in need in all
parts of Iraq. Yet, for over nine years, the Iraqi government
has refused to allow the UN Human Rights Commission's Special
Rapporteur for Iraq to visit the country. UN human rights
monitors have never been allowed in. Newly appointed Special
Rapporteur Andreas Mavrommatis has asked the Government of Iraq
for access so that he may make a personal inspection. A
response has not yet been received.
Human rights NGOs and other interested voices continue to
call for creation of an international tribunal to address the
crimes against humanity of the Iraqi leadership. United States
Government policy supports this view: Saddam Hussein and the
leadership of the Iraqi regime should be indicted and
prosecuted for crimes against humanity and war crimes by an
international criminal tribunal or by a national court that can
properly exercise jurisdiction over them.
The Iraqi leadership's abuse of resources for personal
enrichment and attempts to manipulate the ``oil-for-food''
program continue unabated. Due to higher world oil prices, Iraq
has more revenue available to it to address the humanitarian
needs of its people via the ``oil-for-food'' program. The Iraqi
leadership's command of illicit revenue has also risen sharply
for the same reason. Nonetheless, the government fails to use
such resources for the most benefit to the people of Iraq.
In the north, outside the Kurdish-controlled areas, we
continue to receive reports of the regime forcibly expelling
ethnic Kurds and Turkomans from Kirkuk and other cities, and
transferring other populations into their places.
The Iraqi opposition
We are continuing our engagement with the Iraqi opposition,
helping Iraqis inside and outside Iraq to become a more
effective voice for the aspirations of the people, and working
to build support for the forces of change inside the country.
We will work toward the day when Iraq has a government worthy
of its people--a government prepared to live in peace with its
neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its
citizens rather than represses them.
We are engaged with the new leadership of the Iraqi
National Congress (INC), and recently signed a initial grant
agreement with them for approximately $267,000. This money will
be used by the INC to run their headquarters, hold a Central
Committee meeting, undertake outreach programs to energize free
Iraqis, work more effectively with the international media, and
manage assistance provided under the Iraq Liberation Act (ILA).
We expect to receive proposals from the INC for additional
funding in the near future.
The United Nations Compensation Commission
The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) was
established and operates pursuant to Resolutions 687 (1991) and
692 (1991). The UNCC continues to process claims and pay
compensation for losses and damages suffered by individuals,
corporations, governments and international organizations, as a
direct result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of
Kuwait. To date, the UNCC has issued approximately 1.5 million
awards worth about $15.5 billion. Of these, the U.S. Government
has received funds from the UNCC for an initial payment on
approximately 2,879 U.S. claimants and a follow-up payment for
approximately 1,858 of these claimants. Awards and the costs of
the UNCC's operation are paid for the from the Compensation
Fund, which is funded through the allocation to it of thirty
percent of the proceeds from authorized oil sales under
Security Council Resolutions 986 (1995) and subsequent
extensions.
Conclusion
Iraq remains a serious threat to international peace and
security. The United States remains determined to see Iraq
comply fully with all of its obligations under Security Council
resolutions while at the same time endeavoring to see that the
humanitarian needs of the Iraqi population are addressed. The
United States looks forward to the day when Iraq rejoins the
family of nations as a responsible and law-abiding member under
a new government that serves its people rather than represses
them.