[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 14, 1992]
[Pages 84-86]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



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

January 14, 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 I last reported on November 15, 1991, the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Special Commission created under U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 687 have continued to conduct inspections 
and other activities related to Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and 
ballistic missiles. Iraq has not impeded these efforts insofar as they 
concern sites and activities declared by Iraq and Iraq's participation 
in the destruction of identified chemical 
weapons. In the main, however, Iraq 
continues to be uncooperative and obstructive 
with respect to inspection of sites 
identified by the Special Commission and

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the IAEA (based on their own sources of information) as potentially 
involving clandestine, proscribed activities.
    Since obtaining extensive and detailed documentation of Iraq's 
nuclear weapons program in September 1991, two additional inspections 
have been conducted of facilities judged to be directly associated with 
the testing and development of high-explosive components of the 
implosion system of a nuclear weapon, contrary to Iraq's explanation of 
their purpose. Iraq maintains that it conducted studies but had no 
program to develop nuclear weapons. This position is inconsistent with 
the documents obtained in September and the characteristics observed in 
subsequent visits to Iraqi facilities. These documents and facilities 
reveal a well-funded and broadly based nuclear weapons development 
program involving sophisticated facilities. Additional analysis and 
investigation in this area are required.
    The Special Commission has continued to compile a detailed and 
comprehensive picture of Iraq's chemical and biological weapons program. 
From November 17 to November 30, 1991, the Special Commission conducted 
a chemical and biological weapons inspection and visited, at short 
notice, 13 sites designated by the Special Commission as potentially 
having chemical weapons or biological weapons. Initial reporting 
indicates no chemical or biological weapons activities at these sites. 
In addition, a Special Commission team visited Iraq in mid-November to 
discuss issues related to Iraq's destruction of identified chemical 
weapons and agents, with particular emphasis on safety issues. The 
Special Commission has made recommendations to Iraq regarding an Iraqi 
design for a mustard agent incinerator, the destruction of nerve agents 
caused by caustic hydrolysis, and the breaching and draining of 
munitions. It is estimated that destruction of such munitions can 
commence early in 1992.
    Two ballistic missile inspections have been completed since my last 
report. To date, Special Commission inspection teams have supervised the 
destruction of 62 ballistic missiles, 18 fixed missile launch pads, 33 
ballistic missile warheads, 127 missile storage support racks, 
substantial amounts of rocket fuel, an assembled 350mm supergun, 
components of two 350 and two 1,000mm superguns, and one ton of supergun 
propellant. The United States believes, however, that Iraq continues to 
possess large numbers of undeclared ballistic missiles. Questions also 
remain about whether all aspects of Iraq's attempts to produce the Scud 
missile indigenously and to develop a more capable solid-propellant 
missile have been discovered.
    The United States continues to assist the United Nations in its 
activities, including by conducting U-2 surveillance flights and 
providing intelligence. Although the Special Commission has received 
important monetary contributions from other nations, including Kuwait 
and Saudi Arabia, the shortage of funds readily available to the Special 
Commission has become acute, particularly because the Special Commission 
and the IAEA are now beginning to remove spent irradiated fuel from 
Iraq.
    Since my last report, additional important progress has been made in 
implementing the Security Council resolution on compensating the victims 
of the unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The Governing Council 
of the U.N. Compensation Commission held its third formal session in 
Geneva, November 25-29, 1991, and continued to make rapid progress in 
establishing the framework for processing claims. The Governing Council 
adopted criteria for the remaining categories of claims of individuals, 
claims of corporations, and claims of governments and international 
organizations (including claims for environmental damage and natural 
resource depletion). In addition, the Governing Council set July 1, 
1993, as the deadline for filing claims of individuals under $100,000, 
with expedited consideration to be given to claims filed by July 1, 
1992. The Governing Council has scheduled meetings in January, March, 
and June 1992 to address additional issues concerning the compensation 
program.
    In accordance with paragraph 20 of U.N. Security Council Resolution 
687, the Sanctions Committee continues to receive notice of shipments of 
foodstuffs to Iraq. The Sanctions Committee continues to consider and, 
when appropriate, approve requests to send to Iraq materials and 
supplies

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for essential civilian needs. To date, Iraq has declined to use U.N. 
Security Council Resolutions 706 and 712 to sell $1.6 billion in oil to 
generate revenues for the purchase of foodstuffs for Iraqi citizens.
    On November 24, 1991, the Secretary General's representative for the 
U.N. humanitarian program in Iraq entered into a Memorandum of 
Understanding with Iraq covering the period January 1, 1992, to June 30, 
1992. This Understanding establishes the framework for U.N. humanitarian 
activities (primarily the provision of food, medical care, and shelter) 
in Iraq, which are conducted through centers staffed by U.N. and 
personnel not affiliated with governments. The Understanding 
contemplates the use of up to 500 U.N. armed guards to protect U.N. 
personnel, assets, and operations. On January 2, 1992, the Government of 
Turkey extended for 6 months the authority for U.S. Armed Forces to 
operate in Turkey in furtherance of Operation Provide Comfort.
    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 not to cooperate fully on 
these issues and to resist unqualified ICRC access to detention 
facilities in Iraq.
    I remain grateful for the support of the Congress for our efforts to 
achieve Iraq's full compliance with relevant U.N. Security Council 
resolutions, 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.