[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1053-S1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        UNSCOM CHAIRMAN BUTLER'S REMARKS ON AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, yesterday, I came to the floor to discuss 
the agreement that has been achieved between the UN and Iraq with 
regard to access to suspect sites in Iraq. At that time, I indicated 
that clarifications over the course of the last 48 hours had increased 
our confidence about the degree to which we think the agreement can be 
successful.
  I want to talk a bit more about that agreement now, given the 
comments just made this morning by UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler. His 
statement helps clarify even further the degree to which the agreement 
may be as successful as we had hoped it would.
  As I stated yesterday, what we are seeking could not be more clear. 
We are simply seeking unconditional, unfettered access to all suspect 
sites, as called for in prior Security Council resolutions. We also 
noted yesterday that diplomacy, backed by the threat to use 
overwhelming force, has brought us closer to that goal.
  The comments made over the last 24 hours by UNSCOM Chairman Richard 
Butler are of immense help in clarifying the important details of the 
agreement, some of which we have not had access to until now.
  As the process of clarification continues, there is a growing sense 
of just what we have achieved here. The perspective of UNSCOM Chairman 
Richard Butler, whose track record of toughness with Iraq is legendary, 
is especially valuable.
  I want to take just a moment to highlight some portions of Chairman 
Butler's take on UNSCOM's role in the agreement.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the remarks of Chairman 
Butler be printed in the Record at the end of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (See Exhibit 1.)
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in his statement earlier today, he made a 
number of comments, and I want to describe them at this point. His 
first comment on the overall agreement says that the agreement:

       . . . gave expression to a fundamental commitment that is 
     set forth in the resolutions of the Security Council, mainly 
     that UNSCOM must have immediate, unconditional and 
     unrestricted access to all sites in Iraq for the purpose of 
     carrying out its mandate. The memorandum of understanding at 
     high political level reaffirms and reiterates that 
     commitment.

  In other words, what Chairman Butler has said is that his highest 
priority is to assure that we have this unrestricted, unfettered access 
to all sites in Iraq. Having now examined the details of the memorandum 
of understanding incorporated within the agreement, Chairman Butler 
concludes that the commitment is intact. With regard to the UNSCOM role 
in the context of the agreement, he said:

       I view it [the agreement] as strengthening UNSCOM in the 
     conduct of its work in Iraq.

  With regard to UNSCOM's access to presidential sites, he noted:

       The arrangements that are made for that access, set forth 
     principally in paragraph 4 of the memorandum of 
     understanding, have been the subject of some misunderstanding 
     and, regrettably, some misrepresentation. I want to make 
     clear that those arrangements are entirely satisfactory to me 
     and the organization that I lead.

  With regard to the role of diplomats in the inspection effort, 
Chairman Butler said the following:

       With the establishment of a special inspection group within 
     UNSCOM, to be led by a chief inspector of UNSCOM, to which 
     diplomatic observers will be added to insure concerns that 
     Iraq has expressed and the council has acknowledged with 
     respect to the particular dignity of those sites, we will be 
     able to do our work.

  Putting it in simple language, Chairman Butler has noted that adding 
a diplomatic contingent to the inspection effort will not hinder UNSCOM 
in fulfilling its mission.
  With regard to the concern about unclear lines of authority as UNSCOM 
performs its duties, he said the following:

       These lines of authority and reporting are clear, and I 
     find them entirely satisfactory. Going beyond that, quite 
     frankly, I find it a positive additional resource which will 
     now be put at our disposal to enable us to do the work in 
     those designated sites within Iraq.

  Chairman Butler also adds a note of caution regarding implementation 
of this agreement, as have the President, the Secretaries of State and 
Defense, and many Members of Congress: that the proof will be in the 
testing.
  If Iraq implements the agreement, weapons inspectors will, for the 
first time, have unrestricted, unconditional access to all suspect 
sites in Iraq, with no limits on the numbers of visits or deadlines to 
complete their work. If Iraq does not cooperate and we need to take 
action, we are in a stronger position internationally than ever. Again, 
if Iraq fails to comply, our response will be swift, strong and 
certain.
  Chairman Butler concludes that this is a strong agreement. I share 
his view. This agreement allows us to complete our work. This 
agreement, backed up by the use or the threat of force, would allow us 
the access that we did not have before.
  Mr. President, I don't know how much clearer one can say it than 
that. Chairman Butler has concluded that this agreement does the job--
as long as the Iraqis comply. Now, the question is, will Saddam Hussein 
be willing to live by his word? Will he provide the access he committed 
to in this MOU? If not, it's back to business, it's the use of force, 
it's a swift response militarily and by whatever other means may be 
necessary.
  So, Mr. President, I think we need to get on with it. Let's take the 
necessary steps to get the inspection teams to Iraq and inspect these 
sites. Let's clarify, to whatever extent may be required, whether these 
sites contain material that needs to be destroyed. Let us continue the 
overall assessment of compliance on the part of Iraq. We are in a 
position to do that now. This agreement allows us to pursue our work. I 
applaud those responsible and will continue to monitor this situation 
with every expectation that, one way or the other, we will get the job 
done.
  I yield the floor.

                               Exhibit 1

  Arrangements Between U.N. and Iraq for Inspections of Controversial 
                             Sites In Iraq

         (By Richard Butler, Chairman, U.N. Special Commission)

       Butler: . . . level, it gave expression to a fundamental 
     commitment that is set forth in the resolutions of the 
     Security Council, mainly that UNSCOM must have immediate, 
     unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites in Iraq 
     for the purpose of carrying out its mandate.
       The memorandum of understanding at high political level 
     reaffirms and reiterates that commitment.
       Thirdly, it follows logically from those two facts that, as 
     far as I am concerned, I welcome it. I view it as 
     strengthening UNSCOM in the conduct of its work in Iraq.
       There is some detail in the memorandum of understanding 
     with respect to the specific object that was addressed--
     namely, access

[[Page S1054]]

     for UNSCOM to presidential sites within Iraq. The 
     arrangements that are made for that access, set forth 
     principally in paragraph 4 of the memorandum of 
     understanding, have been the subject of some understanding 
     and, regrettably, some misrepresentation.
       I want to make clear that those arrangements are entirely 
     satisfactory to me and the organization that I lead. They 
     will give us access to the presidential sites in Iraq, which 
     have now been described accurately as a consequence of the 
     work of the UN mapping team, and presented yesterday to the 
     Security Council.
       With the establishment of a special inspection group within 
     UNSCOM, to be led by a chief inspector of UNSCOM, to which 
     diplomatic observers will be added to insure concerns that 
     Iraq has expressed and the council has acknowledged with 
     respect to the particular dignity of those sites, we will be 
     able to do our work.
       I welcome very much in addition the appointment of a new 
     commissioner of the special commission, who will have 
     particular responsibility for the work of inspection of those 
     sites, and who will work very closely with me.
       With respect to the reporting and scientific analysis 
     responsibilities arising out of the inspection of those 
     sites, the analysis will be conducted by UNSCOM, and the 
     reporting will be done from the new commissioner of UNSCOM to 
     me, and I in the usual way to the Security Council through 
     the secretary-general.
       These lines of authority and reporting are clear, and I 
     find them entirely satisfactory. Going beyond that, quite 
     frankly, I find it a positive additional resource which will 
     now be put at our disposal to enable us to do the work in 
     those designated sites within Iraq.
       So under these circumstances, I have to say to you that I 
     am aware of some of the reports that suggest that this has 
     weakened UNSCOM. I disagree. Some have gone further to say 
     that it's the beginning of the end of UNSCOM. I view that 
     much as the legendary reports of Mark Twain's death when he 
     was still alive. He said they were somewhat exaggerated.
       Now, this is a strong agreement. It's an agreement where I 
     suggest to you you should not look so much at the fine print, 
     although that's fine by me, but not so much at the fine 
     print, but the thumbprint. the thumbprint--prints--on this 
     agreement are those of the secretary-general of the United 
     Nations and the president of Iraq, with whom he consulted 
     personally on this agreement.
       I look forward to implementing it as soon as possible, and, 
     as many have said, to going out into the field and to testing 
     in practice what is written on paper. I earnestly hope that 
     Iraq will give as the full cooperation that it has pledged to 
     give in this agreement, and under those circumstances, I hope 
     that we would be able to complete the disarmament portion of 
     our work in Iraq and put all of what remains under long-term 
     monitoring in a relatively short time.
       Now Fred, I must just quickly divert to a report from 
     Baghdad in which a UN official in Baghdad made some remarks 
     about the conduct of our Chilean staff--that is, the 
     helicopter crews provided to us by Chile. I just want to say 
     that I regret those remarks. They were an unauthorized 
     statement for which--which was not in fact--which was not 
     factual. I have, in fact, received within this house an 
     apology for those remarks. I didn't require that it was made, 
     and I gratefully received it.
       The main point I would want to make to you in addition to 
     saying that those remarks, which you may have seen, but I 
     felt the need to address is that they are not factual. What 
     is factual is that the work that is done for us by the 40 
     Chilean air force personnel who fly our helicopters is simply 
     outstanding.
       They are diligent and courageous young men. They're 
     indispensable to the work we do in Iraq. And I want to 
     reiterate my deep gratitude to the government of Chile for 
     continuing to make those persons available to us.
       Thank you.

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