[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[May 15, 1992]
[Pages 774-775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 774]]

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

May 15, 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 continuing 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 the events described in my report of March 16, 1992, the U.N. 
Security Council has rejected Iraq's contention that it was in 
compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. On March 19, 
1992, Rolf Ekeus, Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission 
(UNSCOM), created pursuant to Resolution 687, received from Iraq 
additional declarations of weapons of mass destruction, which it claimed 
to have destroyed the previous summer. The declarations included 89 al 
Hussein (extended-range SCUD) missiles and warheads, 4 Soviet launchers, 
4 Iraqi launchers and test and firing vehicles, 45 chemical warheads for 
the al Husseins and chemical bombs. In addition to expressing its 
willingness to accept Security Council Resolutions 707 and 715, Iraq 
said that it was prepared to comply fully with UNSCOM's demands to 
destroy ballistic missile equipment and provide a ``comprehensive, 
complete, and final'' dossier regarding its weapons of mass destruction 
programs. This full disclosure, which Iraq promised to deliver in early 
April, has not yet been received.
    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. Most important, the 
destruction of nuclear weapons, missiles, and chemical weapons has 
begun. During the 11th nuclear inspection from April 8 to 15, the 
destruction of the Al Atheer nuclear weapons production facility began. 
Five buildings and 29 pieces of equipment were destroyed. During the 
12th nuclear inspection, which is scheduled for May 26 to June 4, 1992, 
three remaining buildings, including the laboratories at Hatteen, are to 
be destroyed. During future inspections, the IAEA will designate other 
Iraqi nuclear facilities for destruction.
    The first chemical weapons destruction team visited Iraq from 
February 21 to March 24, 1992. The team supervised the destruction of 
463 122-millimeter rockets at the Khamissiyah storage site. Of the 
destroyed rockets, some were filled with sarin, a nerve agent; others 
were partially filled with the same agent, while some were empty.
    From March 21 to 29, 1992, the ninth missile team began the process 
of verifying Iraq's most recent declaration. The team saw 86 al Hussein 
missiles (all but 3 of those recently declared by Iraq), verified the 
launchers described in Iraq's most recent declarations, and monitored 
the destruction of dual-use missile production equipment. The 10th 
ballistic missile team, from April 13 to 21, returned to solid 
propellant missile facilities to finish destroying dual-use ballistic 
missile production equipment.
    The United States continues to assist the United  Nations  in  its  
activities  through U-2 surveillance flights, the provision of 
intelligence, and expert inspectors. Nonetheless, the shortage of 
readily available funds to UNSCOM remains critical. In my last report, I 
noted that the United Nations and the United States had agreed on the 
transfer of a $10 million U.S. arrearage payment to UNSCOM, pending 
completion of the funds' reprogramming. That reprogramming has been 
completed, and the funds have been provided.
    Since my last report, there has been additional progress at the U.N. 
Compensation Commission in preparing for the processing of claims from 
individuals, corporations, other entities, and governments who suffered 
direct loss or damage as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and 
occupation of Kuwait. The Governing Council of the Commission held its 
fifth session in Geneva

[[Page 775]]

from March 16 to 20, 1992, and has scheduled meetings in June, 
September, November, and December. At its March session, the Council 
reviewed draft rules of procedure for the processing of claims, 
approving all but one part, which it expects to approve at its next 
session. The Council also reviewed the forms for individual claims above 
$100,000 and for corporate claims; discussed the ``embargo loss'' issue 
and claims by members of the allied coalition forces; and instructed the 
Secretariat to continue its work on locating blocked Iraqi oil deposits 
and to study extension of the deadline for filing environmental or 
public health claims. The Executive Secretary reported that shortages of 
financing continued to delay important activities. Meanwhile, the 
Department of State continues to collect and review U.S. individuals' 
claims for amounts under $100,000 in preparation for filing with the 
U.N. Compensation Commission by July 1 for expedited processing.
    In accordance with paragraph 20 of Resolution 687, the Sanctions 
Committee continues to receive notice of shipments of foodstuffs to 
Iraq. From January to April 22, 1992, 2.22 million metric tons of 
foodstuffs were notified. The Sanctions Committee 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, most of the proceeds from which could 
be used by Iraq to purchase foodstuffs, medicines, materials, and 
supplies for essential civilian needs of its civilian population. The 
Iraqi authorities bear full responsibility for any suffering in Iraq 
that results from their refusal to implement Resolutions 706 and 712.
    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.
    Mindful of the finding of the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 
688 that Iraq's repression of its civilian population threatens 
international peace and security in the region, 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.