    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [July 22, 1993]
    [Pages 1166-1168]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1166]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Iraq's Compliance With
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions
    July 22, 1993

    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 effort to keep the
    Congress fully informed, I am reporting on the status of efforts to
    obtain Iraq's compliance with the resolutions adopted by the U.N.
    Security Council.
        Over the last several months, we have seen more examples of the
    Iraqi Government's refusal to comply with relevant Security Council
    resolutions and international law. In May I reported on our
    investigation of allegations that Iraq attempted to assassinate former
    President Bush during his recent trip to Kuwait. We uncovered compelling
    evidence that the Iraqi Intelligence Service directed the attempt. I
    concluded that there was no reasonable prospect that new diplomatic
    initiatives or economic measures could influence the current Government
    of Iraq to cease planning future attacks against the United States and
    that a continuing threat was posed to the United States. Accordingly, I
    ordered a precise and limited strike against the headquarters of the
    Iraqi Intelligence Service in the exercise of our inherent right of
    self-defense under international law. In accordance with the Charter of
    the United Nations, we reported our actions to the Security Council
    immediately.
        We will strive to use law enforcement and international cooperation
    to prevent the Iraqi regime from once again killing innocent people in
    pursuit of its ends. It should be clear, however, that we will strike
    directly at those who direct and pursue Iraqi policies when it is
    necessary to do so in our self-defense.
        Also, on June 19, a U.S. aircraft fired a missile at an Iraqi anti-
    aircraft site that had displayed hostile intent. The site has not been
    active since the attack.
        Inspections by the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) and the
    International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to date have forced Iraq to
    disclose, destroy, or render harmless all the major nuclear weapons
    facilities and equipment of which we are aware. Along with damage
    inflicted in combat, these inspections have effectively put the Iraqi
    nuclear weapons program out of business in the near-term and have
    substantially impaired Iraq's other weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
    programs.
        Over the long-term, however, we believe that Saddam Hussein is
    committed to rebuilding his WMD capability, especially nuclear weapons.
    UNSCOM and the IAEA are therefore developing a program of long-term
    monitoring in accordance with Security Council Resolution 715. Iraq has
    refused to accept that Resolution, blocking UNSCOM from installing
    cameras to monitor Iraq's compliance with restrictions on long-range
    missiles and from sealing missile sites. The Security Council has
    declared these actions, along with Iraq's failure to comply with demands
    related to its chemical weapons program, to be a material and
    unacceptable breach of Resolution 687 and has warned Iraq of ``serious
    consequences'' if it fails to comply. Discussions between UNSCOM and
    Iraq on these issues are currently underway.
        Iraq depicts itself as seeking consultations, rather than
    confrontation, in complying with Security Council resolutions. Iraq,
    however, has attempted to obstruct even the clearest Security Council
    requirements. In June, Iraq missed two deadlines to deliver equipment
    for producing chemical weapon precursors to UNSCOM for supervised
    destruction. UNSCOM has reported the matter to the Security Council,
    which has the matter under consideration. Iraq still refuses to divulge
    information indicating the foreign companies from which it purchased
    equipment and materials. Accurate information is integral to a workable
    and realistic mechanism for import control, as required by Security
    Council Resolution 715.
        Iraq has also tried to restrict the exercise of UNSCOM's aerial
    inspection rights, impose limits on the duration of inspections and the
    size and composition of inspection teams, required advance notice of
    inspection activities, and limit inspectors' rights to take photographs.
    Vandalism, harassment, and theft have continued against inspectors and
    U.N. property. Iraq is responsible for improving this hostile
    environment.

    [[Page 1167]]

        We have received reports of Iraqi forces shooting at Saudi border
    guards across the Iraq-Saudi border. These acts appear to violate
    paragraph 3(a) of Security Council Resolution 686, which demanded that
    Iraq cease hostile or provocative acts against other states. These
    incidents are the first of their kind since the ceasefire and further
    call into question Iraq's intention to live in peace with its neighbors.
        The ``no-fly zones'' over northern and southern Iraq permit the
    monitoring of Iraq's compliance with Security Council Resolutions 687
    and 688. Over the last two years, the northern no-fly zone has deterred
    Iraq from a major military offensive in the region. Since the no-fly
    zone was established in southern Iraq, Iraq's use of aircraft against
    its population in the region has stopped, as have large-scale troop
    movements. However, the no-fly zone has not prevented the Iraqi army
    from conducting an ongoing campaign against Iraqi Shias in the southern
    marshes, involving the recent burning of several villages. We are
    continuing to work toward the placement of human rights monitors
    throughout Iraq as proposed by Max van der Stoel, Special Rapporteur to
    the U.N. Human Rights Commission, and to work for the establishment of a
    U.N. Commission to investigate and publicize Iraqi war crimes and other
    violations of international humanitarian law.
        The international community has continued its efforts, consistent
    with Security Council resolutions, to alleviate suffering in Iraq. The
    United States is working closely with the U.N. and other organizations
    to provide humanitarian relief to the people of northern Iraq, in the
    face of Iraqi Government efforts to disrupt this assistance. We continue
    to support new U.N. efforts to mount a relief program for persons in
    Baghdad and the South and will ensure that the U.N. will be able to
    prevent the Iraqi Government from diverting supplies.
        The U.N. sanctions regime exempts medicine and requires only that
    the U.N. Sanctions Committee be notified of food shipments. In
    accordance with paragraph 20 of Resolution 687, the Committee received
    notices of 20 million tons of foodstuffs to be shipped to Iraq through
    June 1993. The Sanctions Committee also continues to consider and, when
    appropriate, approve requests to send to Iraq materials and supplies for
    essential civilian needs. The Iraqi Government, in contrast, has
    maintained a full embargo against its northern provinces and has acted
    to distribute humanitarian supplies only to its supporters and to the
    military.
        The Iraqi Government has so far refused to accept U.N. conditions
    for selling $1.6 billion in oil as previously authorized by the Security
    Council in Resolutions 706 and 712, although talks between Iraq and the
    United Nations on implementing these resolutions were resumed in New
    York on July 7 for the third time in two years. Iraq could use proceeds
    from such sales to purchase foodstuffs, medicines, materials, and
    supplies for essential civilian needs of its population, subject to
    strict U.N. monitoring of sales and the equitable distribution of
    humanitarian supplies (including to its northern provinces).
        Proceeds from oil sales also would be used to compensate persons
    injured by Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The U.N.
    Compensation Commission has received about 800,000 claims so far, with a
    total of roughly two million expected. The U.S. Government has filed a
    fourth set of individual claims with the Commission, bringing U.S.
    claims filed to about 1,100. The Commission's efforts will facilitate
    the compensation of those injured by Iraq once sufficient funds become
    available.
        Security Council Resolution 778 permits the use of a portion of
    frozen Iraqi oil assets to fund crucial U.N. activities concerning Iraq,
    including humanitarian relief, UNSCOM, and the Compensation Commission.
    (The funds will be repaid, with interest, from Iraqi oil revenues as
    soon as Iraqi oil exports resume.) The United States is 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 percent of the total amount contributed. We have arranged a total of
    over $51 million in such matching contributions thus far and anticipate
    making another matching contribution of just over $40 million.
        Iraq still has not met its obligations concerning Kuwaitis and
    third-country nationals it detained during the war. Iraq has taken no
    substantive steps to cooperate fully with the International Committee of
    the Red Cross (ICRC), as required by Security Council Resolution 687,
    although it has received over 600 files on missing individuals. Regional
    organizations have also been engaged--thus far to no avail--in trying to
    obtain Iraqi compliance on the issue of detainees. We continue to work
    for Iraqi compliance.

    [[Page 1168]]

        The United Nations has completed its technical task of demarcating
    the previously agreed Iraq-Kuwait border, and the President of the
    Security Council accepted its work. Iraqi Government officials have
    refused to recognize the boundary, despite the requirement to do so
    under Security Council Resolution 687. In accordance with Security
    Council Resolution 806, which responded to Iraqi disruptions on the
    border, the U.N. continues to seek the identification and deployment of
    an armored battalion to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission
    (UNIKOM), so that UNIKOM has sufficient force to take necessary actions
    to prevent violations of the border and the demilitarized zone. The
    United States and our allies also continue to press the Government of
    Iraq to return all property and equipment removed from Kuwait by Iraq.
        Iraq can rejoin the community of civilized nations only through
    democratic processes, respect for human rights, equal treatment of its
    people, and adherence to basic norms of international behavior. A
    government representing all the people of Iraq, which is committed to
    the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq, would be a stabilizing
    force in the Gulf region. The Iraqi National Congress (INC) espouses
    these goals and our support for the INC is a signal of the future we
    seek for Iraq.
        I am grateful for the support of the Congress of our efforts.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    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.