    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 8, 1996]
    [Pages 1085-1087]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1085]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Iraq's Compliance With
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions
    July 8, 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 with the resolutions adopted by the U.N.
    Security Council.
        The Government of Iraq crossed a new threshold of noncompliance with
    its cease-fire obligations in early June when it repeatedly blocked
    attempts by U.N. weapons inspectors to enter certain Iraqi government
    facilities. The investigators from the United Nations Special Commission
    on Iraq (UNSCOM) were attempting to enter Special Republican Guard sites
    where they believe Iraq may be hiding information on its weapons of mass
    destruction (WMD) programs.
        Under a number of Security Council resolutions, Iraq is obligated to
    grant UNSCOM inspectors immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access
    to any location in Iraq they wish to examine. On June 12, the Security
    Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1060 deploring Iraq's failure to
    meet these obligations and demanding that Iraq comply. Upon adoption of
    the resolution, the Iraqi regime immediately and publicly restated its
    refusal to grant the required access.
        Consequently, on June 14, the Security Council directed the
    Executive Chairman of UNSCOM, Rolf Ekeus, to travel to Baghdad to try to
    secure Iraq's compliance. The Council armed Ambassador Ekeus with a
    strong, unanimous Council statement condemning Iraq's continued
    intransigence and noting that its behavior constitutes a clear and
    flagrant violation of a number of Council resolutions, including the
    cease-fire resolution (687). On June 24, Ambassador Ekeus reported to
    the Council that Iraq had agreed to meet its obligations regarding the
    inspections.
        Iraq remains out of compliance with numerous other requirements of
    the Security Council. Iraq continues to stall and obfuscate rather than
    work in good faith toward accounting for the hundreds of Kuwaitis and
    third-country nationals who disappeared at the hands of Iraqi
    authorities during the occupation. Iraq refuses to return all of Kuwaiti
    military equipment stolen during the occupation, as well as priceless
    Kuwaiti cultural and historical artifacts looted on instruction from
    Baghdad. Iraq continues to provide refuge for known terrorists.
        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. Tragically, on June 25 a petroleum truck parked near the
    barracks that housed U.S. military personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia in
    support of the Operation Southern Watch no-fly zone enforcement
    operation exploded, killing 19 and wounding over 250 American military
    personnel, many seriously. This heinous and cowardly attack will not
    deter our efforts in enforcing the no-fly zone.
        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 688, which demands that Iraq cease the
    repression of its own people.
        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.
        On May 20, Iraq and the United Nations signed a Memorandum of
    Understanding setting forth the terms for the implementation of
    Resolution 986 which, among other things, will permit Iraq to sell $2
    billion of oil to purchase food, medicine, and other materials and
    supplies

    [[Page 1086]]

    for essential civilian needs. The United States has long supported
    implementation of Resolution 986 to provide the Iraqi people the relief
    that Saddam refused to provide. The details of implementation continue
    to be discussed, and we are hopeful that the resolution will be
    implemented shortly. We are determined to see the resolution implemented
    as the Council intended: a mechanism to bring relief to suffering
    Iraqis, while denying the benefits of the oil sales to Saddam and his
    associates.
        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. Throughout this period, an air expeditionary
    force has been deployed to Jordan as part of that presence, and a
    similarly constituted air expeditionary force will shortly deploy to
    Qatar as the aircraft in Jordan redeploy to the United States.
        Since my last report, the Multinational Interception Force (MIF),
    has successfully countered the latest Iraqi attempt to illegally export
    petroleum from the Basrah and Khor az Zubayr port facilities. During
    April and May 1996, MIF vessels intercepted the greatest number of oil
    tankers, tugs, and offshore resupply vessels in 2 years. New and repeat
    violators carrying Iraqi petroleum products worth an estimated $1.2
    million and Iraqi dates worth an estimated $1.1 million were diverted.
        For the first time in Iraq sanctions enforcement history, all states
    of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have accepted diverted vessels and
    have enforced the U.N. sanctions regime. Once vessels have been turned
    over, and oil and date cargoes have been seized, the sale proceeds are
    then deposited in the U.N. escrow account and the vessels' crews
    deported. As a result of the MIF's enforcement efforts, we are observing
    an effective deterrence of sanction violations.
        We continue to provide reports of MIF diversions to the U.N. Iraq
    Sanctions Committee as part of our close coordination and consultation
    with the United Nations and with Security Council members on the issue
    of maritime Iraq sanctions enforcement. We have also notified the
    Sanctions Committee of evidence of continued Iranian complicity in the
    export of Iraqi petroleum products.
        We continue to achieve a significant foreign policy objective in
    maintaining multinational participation in the MIF. We received firm
    commitments or serious proposals from 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.
        The MIF will experience an increase in workload as a result of the
    Government of Iraq's acceptance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 986.
    We have revised our Notice to Mariners, which governs the maritime
    regime in the Gulf, to require prior notification and strict observance
    of maritime trade with the Mina al Bakr oil terminal. Our policy remains
    firm: sanctions enforcement measures continue to send a clear message to
    commercial shippers, and most importantly to the Government of Iraq,
    that there will be no action to completely lift or modify sanctions
    until Iraq has established its peaceful intentions by complying with all
    relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. The United Nations
    Compensation Commission (UNCC), established pursuant to Security Council
    Resolution 687, continues to resolve claims against Iraq arising from
    Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Currently, the UNCC
    has issued over 850,000 awards worth more than $3.3 billion. The UNCC
    has been able to authorize only limited payments for fixed awards for
    serious personal injury or death, as Iraq is not in compliance with all
    relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, and U.N. sanctions remain in
    force. However, under U.N. Security Council Resolution 986, if Iraq
    sells the full amount of oil initially authorized, $600 million in
    revenue will go to the Compensation Fund, based on the requirement that
    30 percent of oil sales proceeds be transferred into the Fund. Because
    the UNCC has issued over $3.3 billion in

    [[Page 1087]]

    awards, funds generated by this sale of oil will be sufficient to pay
    only a portion of the claims issued to date.
        To conclude, Iraq remains a serious threat to regional peace and
    stability. I remain determined to see Iraq comply fully with all of its
    obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions. My Administration
    will continue to oppose any further relaxation of sanctions until Iraq
    demonstrates its peaceful intentions through such compliance.
        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
    July 9.