    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 4, 1996]
    [Pages 691-693]
    [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
    May 4, 1996

    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

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    with the resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council.
        The Government of Iraq remains far from compliance with its
    obligations under applicable Security Council resolutions. The U.N.
    Special Commission (UNSCOM) Chairman Ekeus remarked recently in
    Washington that Iraq may be hiding up to 16 SCUD missiles, possibly
    armed with biological warheads. Iraqi officials blatantly violated
    Security Council resolutions in March when they repeatedly obstructed
    UNSCOM officials attempting to search buildings in Baghdad for weapons
    of mass destruction material. Iraqi officials may have removed or
    destroyed incriminating material during the delay. In a report released
    on April 11, UNSCOM expressed its concern that Iraq may still be engaged
    in weapons activities prohibited under Security Council Resolution 687.
    Iraq continues to evade its duty to return looted Kuwaiti property and
    help account for hundreds of civilians who disappeared in Kuwait during
    the occupation. Iraq still provides refuge for known terrorists. The
    Security Council took all these factors into account in maintaining
    sanctions without change at its March 8 review.
        Saddam Hussein's unwillingness to comply with the norms of
    international behavior extends to his regime's continuing threat to
    Iraqi citizens throughout the country. We and our coalition partners
    continue to enforce the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq as
    part of our efforts to deter Iraq's use of aircraft against its
    population. Iraq's repression of its southern Shi'a population
    continues, with policies aimed at destroying the Marsh Arabs' way of
    life as well as the ecology of the southern marshes.
        The human rights situation throughout Iraq remains unchanged. Saddam
    Hussein shows no signs of complying with U.N. Security Council
    Resolution 683, which demands that Iraq cease the repression of its own
    people. The U.N. Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) recently adopted a
    strongly-worded resolution condemning ``massive and extremely grave
    violations of human rights'' carried out by the Government of Iraq. The
    resolution draws heavily from the report of the Special Rapporteur of
    the UNHRC. The resolution also continues the mandate of the Special
    Rapporteur. Parliamentary elections held in late March were as much a
    farce as last November's ``Referendum'' on Saddam Hussein's rule.
    Candidates were required to pledge their loyalty to Saddam Hussein and
    his Ba'ath Party in order to be eligible. All legitimate international
    observers and Iraqi opposition groups rejected the legitimacy of both
    the process and the outcome of the elections.
        The United States, together with international and humanitarian
    relief organizations, continues to provide humanitarian assistance to
    the people of northern Iraq. Security conditions in northern Iraq remain
    tenuous at best, with Iranian and PKK activity adding to the ever-
    present threat from Baghdad. We continue to facilitate talks between the
    two major Kurdish groups in an effort to help them resolve their
    differences and increase stability in northern Iraq.
        Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 986, Iraq is authorized to
    sell a prescribed amount of oil for the purchase of humanitarian
    supplies. Discussions between U.N. and Iraqi officials on implementation
    of the Resolution continued in April. It remains unclear whether Iraq is
    serious about implementing the Resolution as drafted. We would like to
    see the provisions of Resolution 986 implemented, but only with the
    safeguards envisioned in the Resolution to ensure that Saddam Hussein
    cannot abuse the Resolution's humanitarian purposes.
        In October 1994, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 949,
    which demanded that Iraq not utilize its forces to threaten its
    neighbors or U.N. operations in Iraq and that it not redeploy or enhance
    its military capacity in southern Iraq. In view of Saddam Hussein's
    proven record of unreliability, we have felt it prudent to maintain a
    significant U.S. force presence in the region in order to maintain the
    capability to respond rapidly to possible Iraqi aggression or threats
    against its neighbors. We recently deployed an air expeditionary force
    to Jordan as part of that presence.
        Since my last report, the Multinational Interception Force (MIF),
    conducting the maritime enforcement of sanctions against Iraq, has
    encountered renewed attempts to smuggle commodities from Iraq. During
    March and April, MIF vessels intercepted vessels carrying Iraqi
    petroleum products worth an estimated $1.1 million and Iraqi dates worth
    an estimated $1.4 million. The expeditious acceptance of these diverted
    vessels by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates has
    greatly contributed to the deterrent effect of MIF sanctions enforcement
    operations. It has also enhanced enforcement efforts by allowing MIF
    vessels es-

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    corting the diverted vessels to return to patrol operations.
        We continue to achieve a significant foreign policy objective in
    maintaining multinational participation in the MIF. Ships from the
    United States, the United Kingdom, and The Netherlands participated in
    MIF operations from February through April of this year. Additionally,
    we have received firm commitments or serious proposals from Australia,
    New Zealand, Belgium and Canada to send frigates to participate in the
    MIF in late 1996 and early 1997.
        Other countries have made different but important contributions
    toward enforcing the U.N. sanctions against Iraq. For example, Honduras
    recently deflagged four vessels and Belize deflagged three vessels.
    India has initiated ``registry deletion'' proceedings against vessels
    operating under its flag, and the United Arab Emirates is currently
    considering the deflagging of a vessel diverted twice for violating the
    sanctions.
        We continue to provide briefings to the U.N. Iraq Sanctions
    Committee as part of our close coordination and consultation with the
    U.N. and with Security Council members on the issue of maritime Iraq
    sanctions enforcement. Evidence was provided concerning continued
    Iranian complicity in the export of Iraqi petroleum products through the
    provision to vessels violating the sanctions of false paperwork, the use
    of Iranian territorial waters, and warnings regarding the location of
    MIF vessels. Evidence was also provided concerning the acceptance of
    protection fees by Iranian officials in return for this assistance.
        Security Council Resolution 687 affirmed that Iraq is liable under
    international law for compensating the victims of its unlawful invasion
    and occupation of Kuwait. Although the U.N. Compensation Commission
    (UNCC) has approved some 790,000 individual awards worth about $3.0
    billion against Iraq, it has been able to authorize the payment of only
    the fixed awards for serious personal injury or death (aggregating
    approximately $13.5 million). The remainder of the awards cannot be paid
    because the U.N. Compensation Fund lacks sufficient funding. The awards
    are supposed to be financed by a deduction from the proceeds of future
    Iraqi oil sales, once such sales are permitted to resume. However,
    Iraq's refusal to meet the Security Council's terms for a limited
    resumption of oil sales has left the UNCC without adequate financial
    resources to pay the awards. Iraq's intransigence means that the victims
    of its aggression remain uncompensated for their losses 5 years after
    the end of the Gulf War.
        To conclude, Iraq remains a serious threat to regional peace and
    stability. I remain determined that Iraq comply fully with all its
    obligations under the U.N. Security Council Resolutions. My
    Administration will continue to oppose any relaxation of sanctions until
    Iraq demonstrates peaceful intentions through its overall compliance
    with all of the U.N. Security Council Resolutions.
        I appreciate the support of the Congress for our efforts and shall
    continue to keep the Congress informed about this important issue.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House
    of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of the
    Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    May 6.