[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[April 3, 1991]
[Pages 323-324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the United Nations Persian Gulf Cease-Fire Resolution
April 3, 1991

    I am extremely pleased that the Security Council has voted in favor 
of Resolution 687. Fourteen times now the United Nations has 
demonstrated its determination to contribute significantly to the 
prospects for lasting peace and security in the Gulf 
region.
    This latest resolution creates the basis for a formal cease-fire 
in the Gulf. It comes 8 months since Iraq invaded Kuwait. During these 8 
months, the world community has stood up for 
what is right and just. It is now up to Iraq's Government to demonstrate 
that it is prepared to respect the will of the

[[Page 324]]

world community and communicate its formal acceptance of this resolution 
to the Security Council and the Secretary-General.
    The resolution is unprecedented. It creates a force to monitor the 
legal border between Iraq and Kuwait; it also provides a U.N. guarantee 
of that border. Once this observer force arrives, all remaining U.S. 
ground forces will be withdrawn from Iraqi territory.
    The resolution establishes a fund to compensate Kuwait and other 
claimants for the damage caused by Iraq's aggression. The resolution 
also includes provisions designed to ensure that Iraq cannot rebuild its 
military strength to threaten anew the peace of the region. Weapons of 
mass destruction and the means to deliver them are to be destroyed; this 
is to be confirmed by onsite inspection.
    Certain sanctions will remain in force until such time as Iraq is 
led by a government that convinces the world of its intent both to live 
in peace with its neighbors and to devote its resources to the welfare 
of the Iraqi people. The resolution thus provides the necessary latitude 
for the international community to adjust its relations with Iraq 
depending upon Iraq's leadership and behavior.
    I also want to condemn in the strongest terms continued attacks by 
Iraqi Government forces against defenseless Kurdish and other Iraqi 
civilians. This sort of behavior will continue to set Iraq apart from 
the community of civilized nations. I call upon Iraq's leaders to halt 
these attacks immediately and to allow international organizations to go 
to work inside Iraq to alleviate the suffering and to ensure that 
humanitarian aid reaches needy civilians. As a result of these cruel 
attacks, Turkey is now faced with a mounting refugee problem. The United 
States is prepared to extend economic help to Turkey through 
multilateral channels, and we call upon others to do likewise.