[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[March 16, 1992]
[Pages 461-463]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Iraq's Compliance With United Nations 
Security Council Resolutions

March 16, 1992
Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    Consistent with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against 
Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), and as part of my con-

[[Page 462]]

tinuing effort to keep the Congress fully informed, I am again reporting 
on the status of efforts to obtain compliance by Iraq with the 
resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council.
    Since I last reported on January 14, 1992, Iraq has continued its 
noncompliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. As a 
result, United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) Chairman Rolf Ekeus 
was dispatched by the Secretary General of the United Nations to Iraq, 
where he met Iraqi Minister of State Sahaf, Foreign Minister Hussein, 
and Deputy Prime Minister Aziz. Iraqi cooperation has not improved. The 
U.N. Security Council released a statement on February 28 demanding 
Iraq's appearance in the Council no later than the week of March 9, 
1992. Iraq has agreed and has sent a delegation to New York.
    Nevertheless, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and 
UNSCOM have continued to conduct inspections and other activities 
related to Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Two 
nuclear inspections have been conducted since my last report. With the 
help of the German Government, UNSCOM/IAEA inspectors uncovered 
equipment in Iraq sufficient to support thousands of production 
centrifuges for enriching uranium.
    The first chemical weapons destruction team is now in Iraq and has 
begun exploding Iraqi chemical-filled rockets. It is estimated that 
destruction will take approximately 18 months. In an example of Iraqi 
noncompliance, members of a chemical weapons inspection team recently 
were jostled at the entrance of their Baghdad hotel and pinned against 
the wall by a group of demonstrators as a larger group trapped the rest 
of the team on its bus for over 20 minutes. The Iraqi police simply 
observed.
    The most recent example of Iraqi noncompliance came in the one 
ballistic missile inspection completed since my last report. This team 
was to begin the destruction of UNSCOM-designated Iraqi facilities and 
equipment used in the production of ballistic missiles. Because Iraq 
refused to comply, the team was withdrawn on February 29, 1992, pending 
the visit of a high-level Iraqi mission to the United Nations Security 
Council.
    The Special Commission reported Iraq's noncompliance to the U.N. 
Security Council on February 28, 1992. Despite UNSCOM's observation of 
the destruction of 62 missiles and other equipment months ago, the 
United States believes that Iraq still possesses large numbers of 
undeclared ballistic missiles.
    The United States continues to assist the United Nations in its 
activities, through U-2 surveillance flights, the provision of 
intelligence, and expert inspectors. The shortage of readily available 
funds to UNSCOM remains critical, in spite of our additional infusion of 
$2 million last month. The United Nations and the United States have 
agreed on the transfer of a $10 million U.S. arrearage payment to 
UNSCOM, pending completion of the funds' reprogramming.
    Since my last report, there has been additional progress in 
implementing the resolution of the Security Council concerning 
compensation of the victims of the unlawful invasion and occupation of 
Kuwait. The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation 
Commission held its fourth formal session in Geneva January 20-24, 1992, 
and continued to make progress in establishing the framework for 
processing claims. The Governing Council adopted ceiling amounts for 
compensation of nonmonetary losses for mental pain and anguish on the 
part of persons who, for example, were held hostage or forced into 
hiding, received serious personal injury, or suffered the death of an 
immediate family member. The Governing Council also considered 
additional guidance on compensation for business losses. Meanwhile, the 
Department of State has begun collecting from U.S. individuals claims 
under $100,000, in preparation for filing them with the United Nations 
Compensation Commission by July 1, 1992, for expedited processing. The 
Governing Council has scheduled meetings in March and June to address 
further issues concerning the compensation program.
    In accordance with paragraph 20 of Resolution 687, the Sanctions 
Committee continues to receive notice of shipments of foodstuffs to 
Iraq. From March to December 1991, 5.4 million metric tons of foodstuffs 
were notified. The Sanctions Committee

[[Page 463]]

also continues to consider and, when appropriate, approve requests to 
send to Iraq materials and supplies for essential civilian needs. Iraq 
to date has refused, however, to utilize the opportunity under 
Resolutions 706 and 712 to sell $1.6 billion in oil for use in 
purchasing foodstuffs, medicines, materials, and supplies for essential 
civilian needs of its civilian population. Saddam bears full 
responsibility for the resulting suffering in Iraq.
    Attention to possible illegal exports to Iraq has been focused on 
company names compiled during inspections in Iraq. We have received from 
UNSCOM a preliminary list of U.S. company names whose equipment has been 
seen in Iraq by U.N. inspectors. We provided this list, on a 
confidential basis, to investigative agencies and appropriate 
congressional committees.
    Through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the 
United States, Kuwait, and our allies continue to press the Government 
of Iraq to comply with its obligations under Security Council 
resolutions to return all detained Kuwaiti and third-country nationals. 
Likewise, the United States and its allies continue to press the 
Government of Iraq to return to Kuwait all property and equipment 
removed from Kuwait by Iraq. Iraq continues to resist full cooperation 
on these issues and to resist unqualified ICRC access to detention 
facilities in Iraq.
    As I stated in previous reports, in concert with our Coalition 
partners, we will continue to monitor carefully the treatment of Iraq's 
citizens, and together we remain prepared to take appropriate steps if 
the situation requires. To this end, we will continue to maintain an 
appropriate level of forces in the region for as long as required by the 
situation in Iraq.
    I remain grateful for the support of the Congress for these efforts, 
and I look forward to continued cooperation toward achieving our mutual 
objectives.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. 
                        Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                        and Robert C. Byrd, President pro tempore of the 
                        Senate.