[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[November 16, 1992]
[Pages 2164-2166]
[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
November 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 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.
    In my report of September 16, 1992, I described Operation Southern 
Watch, with its accompanying ``no-fly zone.'' Operation Southern Watch 
implements Security Council Resolution 688, which requires Iraq to end 
the repression of its civilian population immediately, allow immediate 
access by international humanitarian organizations to all parts of Iraq, 
and make available all facilities for the operation of these 
organizations. Southern Watch has been working extremely well. Iraq's 
use of aircraft to repress its civilian population, in particular Iraq's 
bombing of its citizens in and around the southern marsh areas, has 
stopped. There have been no major Iraqi military operations south of the 
36th parallel since the monitoring zone was announced, nor has there 
been any major increase in Iraqi forces in the southern region. Some 
Iraqi repression of the civilian population in the region continues, 
however. Meanwhile, the Coalition's effort to ensure compliance with 
Resolution 688 in northern Iraq, Operation Provide Comfort, also 
continues to discourage major Iraqi military operations against the 
inhabitants of northern Iraq.
    Since my previous report, the Iraqi opposition has held two meetings 
in northern Iraq to broaden the base of the Iraq National 
Congress (INC). We support the efforts of the INC to rally Iraqis 
against the Saddam regime and in favor of a future Iraq based on the 
principles of political pluralism, ter-

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ritorial unity, and full compliance with all the U.N. Security Council 
resolutions. We encourage other governments to do the same.
    Moreover, the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) and the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have continued to investigate 
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program and to verify the destruction 
of relevant facilities, equipment, and weapons.
    The fourteenth ballistic missile inspection team, UNSCOM 45, October 
16-29, was the largest and most complex inspection UNSCOM has conducted. 
It inspected declared and undeclared facilities associated with the 
manufacture and storage of ballistic missile fuels in an effort to learn 
whether Iraq is attempting to maintain a clandestine SCUD force. Initial 
fuel sample analyses were inconclusive. The team found little evidence 
of SCUD missile activity at any site. Russian cooperation was essential 
to this inspection, which depended heavily on both information and 
technical assistance from Russian experts.
    A nuclear inspection team, UNSCOM 46/IAEA 15, was in Iraq in early 
November. Weather permitting, it will have completed water sampling 
throughout Iraq. Initial results from the first round of water samples 
taken in early September (and mentioned in my last report) have not 
revealed evidence of any facility in Iraq producing fissionable fuel. 
Some new sites likely will be designated for inspection.
    In late September, the Chemical Destruction Group in residence at 
the Muthanna State Establishment destroyed the following items: 120 
122mm rocket warheads; 350 122mm propellant grain; 153 122mm rocket 
motor tube assembly; 1335 liters of nerve agent (GB/GF); 13 al Hussein 
warheads; 228 liters of isopropyl alcohol; 4 500 gauge oil-filled bombs; 
2 155mm oil-filled projectiles; 4 250 gauge oil-filled bombs; and 14 
R400 aerial bombs. Destruction activity will continue for the next 
twelve months.
    The inspectors continue to be subjected to harassment, but 
harassment subsided to a low level after the strong international 
protests in response to Iraq's actions in August and September.
    UNSCOM continues to face a shortage of funds. As I noted in my 
previous report, the United States has contributed over $40 million to 
UNSCOM since its inception. Recent pledges from two other countries 
exceed $40 million, but the funds have not reached UNSCOM.
    On October 2, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 778, 
which permits the use of a portion of frozen Iraqi oil assets to fund 
crucial U.N activities concerning Iraq, including UNSCOM, humanitarian 
relief, and the Compensation Commission. On October 21, I signed 
Executive Order No. 12817, which implements that Resolution in the 
United States. We are prepared to transfer up to $200 million in frozen 
Iraqi oil assets held in U.S. financial institutions, provided that U.S. 
contributions do not exceed 50% of the total amount contributed. These 
funds will be repaid, with interest, from Iraqi oil revenues as soon as 
Iraqi oil exports resume.
    The Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission continues its work, 
without Iraqi participation. The land boundary is expected to be 
completely demarcated through the placement of boundary pillars in the 
ground by the end of the year. During its seventh session October 12-16, 
the Commission considered the offshore boundary section, which it will 
take up again at its next meeting, tentatively scheduled for December.
    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 December 14-18, with a further meeting in March 
1993.
    At its latest session September 21-24, the Governing Council adopted 
decisions on extending the filing deadlines for certain 
types of claims (including claims for environmental damage) and on 
protection against multiple recovery. The Council discussed business 
losses, interest, and costs, without making decisions. The Executive

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Secretary reported that the Commission already has received over 150,000 
claims and expects many times that number. He noted that the Commission 
will require at least $9 million in one-time expenditures, plus $1.2 
million annually, for a computer system for processing and verifying 
such a large number of claims.
    We plan to meet some of the Commission's needs with funds derived 
from frozen Iraqi oil assets. Thirty percent of the funds derived from 
frozen oil assets transferred under U.N. Security Council Resolution 778 
are to go to the Compensation Fund. This should generate sufficient 
funding for the Commission to proceed with its permanent computer system 
and to begin processing claims.
    Meanwhile, the Department of State has distributed the forms for 
claims by governments (Form F) to federal agencies and state 
governments. On September 23, the U.S. Government filed its second set 
of 180 consolidated individual claims with the Commission, bringing the 
total of U.S. claims filed to 380. The Department is reviewing about 
1200 additional claims received from individuals and is now receiving 
claims from corporations. The next filing is scheduled for December.
    In accordance with paragraph 20 of Resolution 687, the Sanctions 
Committee has received notices of approximately 3.1 million tons of 
foodstuffs to be 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, 
proceeds from which could be used by Iraq under U.N. supervision 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 other Coalition members 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.
    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 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.