[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 16, 1992]
[Pages 1574-1576]
[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
September 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 continuing effort 
to keep the Congress fully informed, I am again reporting on the status 
of efforts to obtain Iraq's compliance with the resolutions adopted by 
the U.N. Security Council.
    Since the events described in my report of July 16, 1992, Coalition 
members have decided upon further measures to implement Security Council 
Resolution 688, which requires Iraq to end the repression of its 
civilian population immediately, to allow immediate access by 
international humanitarian organizations to all parts of Iraq, and to 
make available all facilities for the operation of these organizations. 
Far from complying with Resolution 688, in recent months Saddam has 
increased his repression of the civilian population in both the northern 
and southern parts of the country. In southern Iraq, according to U.N. 
Human Rights Commission Rapporteur Max Van der Stoel, Iraqi authorities 
use jet fighters, helicopter gunships, and scorched earth methods and 
have drained marshlands, thereby depriving residents of food and leaving 
them vulnerable to military repression. United Nations workers in 
southern Iraq, harassed by Iraqi officials, have been unable to learn 
fully the extent of Iraqi repression.
    Members of the Coalition have reviewed means available to assist the 
United Nations in monitoring Iraqi compliance with Resolution 688. The 
Iraqi Foreign Minister has informed the United Nations that Iraq would 
not accept U.N. monitors. The Coalition has decided to begin aerial 
reconnaissance of southern Iraq to monitor the situation. Moreover, the 
Coalition has announced that Iraqi aircraft and helicopters 
will not be permitted to fly south of the 32d parallel. This ``no-fly 
zone'' is similar to that

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established in northern Iraq as part of Operation Provide Comfort and 
will include expanded monitoring of southern Iraq from the air. As in 
northern Iraq, United States, British, and French Coalition forces are 
enforcing the no-fly zone south of the 32d parallel. As a result of the 
no-fly zone, Iraqi use of aircraft to conduct repression of the civilian 
population in the region, in particular the bombing of citizens around 
marsh areas, has stopped.
    I have ordered U.S. participation in the enforcement of the no-fly 
zone and expanded aerial surveillance of southern Iraq under my 
constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and consistent with the 
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public 
Law 102-1).
    Since the events noted in my last report, the U.N. Special 
Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) has continued to investigate Iraq's weapons 
of mass destruction (WMD) program and to verify the destruction of 
relevant facilities, equipment, and weapons. The most recent ballistic 
missile inspection, August 8-18, 1992, found new information on Iraq's 
ballistic missile program, including confirmation that facilities not 
previously reported by Iraq were involved in that program. (In July 
1992, Iraq had provided what it called a ``full, final, and complete'' 
report on its WMD program; as subsequent inspections have revealed, this 
report is incomplete. U.N. Security Council Resolution 687 required that 
Iraq provide a full report in April 1991.) The 14th nuclear inspection 
team, from August 31-September 7, verified the destruction and rendering 
harmless of facilities and equipment at Ash Sharqat and Tarmiya, two 
mirror-image facilities for uranium enrichment, and made arrangements 
for the destruction of remaining facilities. It also began water 
sampling of Iraqi rivers, to measure any level of radioactivity that 
might indicate an operative water-cooled reactor nearby. Regular 
inspections of declared and suspected sites will continue.
    These inspection efforts have been subjected to Iraqi interference. 
Most notoriously, Iraqi authorities refused to admit an UNSCOM team into 
the Agriculture Ministry for three weeks, even though Resolution 687 
requires that Iraq permit ``urgent'' inspections of any location 
designated by UNSCOM and Security Council Resolution 707 requires Iraq 
to allow immediate and unrestricted access to any such area. When the 
inspection took place, it appeared that information had been removed 
from the Ministry and files altered. In the weeks before entering the 
Agriculture Ministry, UNSCOM inspectors suffered petty acts of 
harassment, demonstrations by large crowds that appeared likely to 
become violent, vandalism of vehicles, and armed attacks; subsequent 
inspection teams have also been harassed. For a short time, Iraqi 
officials voiced opposition to the participation of Coalition members in 
UNSCOM inspections. They have also said that they will deny UNSCOM 
access to government ministries.
    The Security Council and Coalition members have responded to each 
Iraqi interference with diplomatic means. We have been prepared to 
employ stronger measures, however, and our resolve has played a crucial 
role in obtaining Iraqi compliance. We will remain prepared to use all 
necessary means, in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolutions, 
to assist the United Nations in removing the threat posed by Iraq's 
chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons capability.
    UNSCOM continues to face a shortage of funds. We have recently 
contributed $30 million, bringing our contributions to a total of over 
$40 million since UNSCOM's inception. We have persuaded other nations to 
contribute as well and expect at least $30 million in additional 
contributions to reach UNSCOM in the next several months. More funding 
will be necessary, however.
    Following increasing Iraqi challenges to the work of the Iraq-Kuwait 
Boundary Demarcation Commission, Iraq informed the Secretary General 
that it would no longer participate in the Commission's work. Its 
announcement does not affect the Commission's competence under Security 
Council Resolution 687. On July 24, the Commission made a further report 
to the U.N. Secretary General describing its findings on the land 
boundary between Iraq and Kuwait. On August 26, in Resolution 773, the 
Security Council welcomed the Commission's decisions and underlined its 
guarantee of the

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inviolability of the boundary and its decision to take all necessary 
measures to that end. The physical demarcation of the land boundary is 
expected to be completed by the end of the year. In addition, in October 
the Commission plans to renew its consideration of the offshore 
boundary.
    Since my last report, the U.N. Compensation Commission has continued 
to prepare for the processing of claims from individuals, corporations, 
other entities, governments, and international organizations that 
suffered direct loss or damage as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion 
and occupation of Kuwait. The next session of the Governing Council of 
the Commission is scheduled in Geneva September 21-25, 1992, with a 
further meeting in December.
    At an informal meeting on August 7, the Governing Council discussed 
the continuing serious financial difficulties confronting the 
Commission. These difficulties persist, despite a $2 million dollar loan 
from the Kuwaiti Government, received in June, and an additional $1 
million dollars from the United States, which was noted in my last 
report. The Commission must now develop computer software and services 
needed to process claims, at an estimated one-time cost of $2.8 to $6.6 
million and an annual cost of about $1.2 million. Unless funding is 
found immediately, the Commission's financial difficulties threaten to 
delay or halt the entire compensation process.
    Meanwhile, the Commission has released to governments the forms for 
claims by governments and international organizations (Form F). On July 
6, the Department of State distributed the forms for claims by 
corporations and other entities (Form E) to over 500 potential U.S. 
claimants. The Department also continues to collect and review over 
1,500 claims received from individuals and has scheduled its next filing 
of such claims with the Commission in September.
    In accordance with paragraph 20 of Resolution 687, the Sanctions 
Committee has received notices that approximately 3.1 million tons of 
foodstuffs have been shipped to Iraq thus far in 1992. The Sanctions 
Committee also continues to consider and, when appropriate, approve 
requests to send to Iraq materials and supplies for essential civilian 
needs. Iraq, in contrast, has for months maintained a full embargo 
against its northern provinces. Iraq has also refused 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 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 some 800 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 withhold necessary 
cooperation on these issues and to resist unqualified ICRC access to 
detention facilities in Iraq.
    I remain grateful for the support of the Congress for these efforts 
and 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 Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.