    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 3 (Monday, January 25, 1993)]
    [Pages 67-70]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Iraq's Compliance With
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions

     January 19, 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 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.
        Since my last report on November 16, 1992, Iraq has repeatedly
    ignored and violated its international obligations under U.N. Security
    Council Resolutions. Iraq's actions include the harassment of
    humanitarian relief operations in northern Iraq contrary to U.N.
    Security Council Resolution 688, violations of the Iraq-Kuwait
    demilitarized zone, interference with U.N. operations in violation of
    Security Council Resolution 687, repeated violations by Iraqi aircraft
    of the southern and northern no-fly zones, and threats by Iraq's air
    defense forces against Coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones.
        The southern no-fly zone and Operation Southern Watch were
    established in August 1992 to assist the monitoring of Iraq's compliance
    with Security Council Resolution 688. Since that time, Iraq has stopped
    aerial bombardments of its citizens in and around the southern marsh
    areas and ceased large-scale military operations south of the 32nd
    parallel. Operation Southern Watch cannot detect lower-level acts of
    oppression, however.
        In December 1992, Iraqi aircraft on several occasions entered the
    southern no-fly zone and demonstrated hostile intent, including by
    firing a missile at a U.S. aircraft. On December 27, 1992, a U.S.
    aircraft shot down an Iraqi aircraft that entered the no-fly zone.
    Beginning in late December, Iraq moved surface-to-air missiles into the
    zone, threatening Coalition aircraft operating south of the 32nd
    parallel. On January 6, 1993, the United States and its Coalition
    partners issued an ultimatum to Iraq to disperse and render non-
    threatening its surface-to-air missiles deployed in the zone and to
    cease aircraft activities in the area. Iraq initially acceded to this
    demarche. The United States then announced that it would scrutinize
    Iraqi activity and that ``[n]o further warning will be issued if Iraq
    violates the requirements of the January 6 demarche.''
        By January 11, 1993, it had become clear that Iraq had stopped
    complying with the requirements of the January 6 demarche and that
    missiles once again threaten Coalition aircraft. Accordingly, U.S. and
    Coalition aircraft attacked and destroyed surface-to-air missile sites
    and related facilities in southern Iraq on January 13. There were no
    losses to the aircraft taking part in the mission. In this connection, I
    note the statement of U.N. Secretary General Boutros-Ghali on January
    14, 1993, that ``the raid and the forces that carried out the raid, have
    received a mandate from the Security Council, according to Resolution
    687, and the cause of the raid was the violation by Iraq of Resolution
    687 concerning the cease-fire. So, as Secretary General of the United
    Nations, I can say this action was taken and conforms to the resolutions
    of the Security Council and conformed to the Charter of the United
    Nations.'' On January 18, 1993, Coalition aircraft again struck air
    defense sites and related infrastructure to ensure the safety of
    Coalition flight operations in the area. There were no losses to
    Coalition aircraft.
        On January 7, 1993, the Iraqi Government refused permission for
    certain U.N. aircraft to land in Baghdad, thereby interfering with the
    missions of the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM) and the U.N.
    Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM). On January 8, and again on
    January 11, 1993, the U.N. Security Council formally found this Iraqi
    action to ``constitute an unacceptable and material breach of the
    relevant provisions of Resolution 687 (1991), which established the
    cease-fire and provided the conditions essential to the restoration of
    peace and security in the region.'' The Council also warned Iraq of the
    ``serious consequences which would ensue from failure to comply with its
    obligations.''
        On January 13, 1993, we underscored our full support for the
    Council's statements. On January 15, 1993, UNSCOM found Iraq's re-

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    fusal to guarantee the safety of flights constituted an abdication of
    Iraq's responsibilities to ensure the safety of UNSCOM personnel. On
    January 16, 1993, UNSCOM found that Iraq's decision to condition
    ensuring the safety of flights on entry of Iraqi airspace from Jordan to
    be an unacceptable attempt to restrict UNSCOM's freedom of movement. If
    accepted, such a condition would prevent the Special Commission from
    effectively carrying out its mission.
        On January 17, 1993, at my direction, U.S. Tomahawk missiles
    destroyed the Zaafaraniyah nuclear fabrication facility near Baghdad.
    This facility was selected because of its role in Iraq's electromagnetic
    isotope separation (EMIS) program. The Coalition attack was designed to
    help achieve the goals of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 687, 707,
    and 715 requiring Iraq to accept the inspection and elimination of its
    weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Zaafariniyah had
    been inspected a number of times, and some equipment used for the
    production of EMIS components for Iraq's nuclear weapons program was
    removed. The facility nonetheless contained precision machine tools used
    to fabricate items for military and civilian customers and could again
    be used to support Iraq's nuclear weapons program.
        In early January 1993, Iraq sent personnel into Kuwait and the
    demilitarized zone (DMZ) to seize military equipment and other valuable
    goods. These actions violated the DMZ, the recently demarcated Iraqi-
    Kuwait boundary, and agreements with the United Nations. On January 8,
    the U.N. Security Council declared that, ``the presence of Iraqi
    military personnel in the demilitarized zone was a serious violation of
    Resolution 687.'' It also said that ``the removal of the Iraqi property
    and assets from Kuwaiti territory should be undertaken only after prior
    clearance by UNIKOM and by the Kuwaiti authorities through UNIKOM.''
        On January 10, 1993, Coalition representatives notified the Iraqi
    Government that additional Iraqi intrusions into Kuwait and the DMZ
    would not be tolerated. On January 11, the Security Council condemned
    the Iraqi actions as ``further material breaches of Resolution 687'' and
    warned Iraq again of serious consequences that would flow from continued
    defiance. Nevertheless, each day from January 10 to 13, Iraq continued
    to send personnel to retrieve material in violation of the DMZ, the
    boundary, and its agreements with the United Nations. In these
    circumstances, I ordered the deployment of a task force to Kuwait to
    reemphasize our commitment to Kuwaiti independence and security.
        Meanwhile, Operation Provide Comfort, the Coalition's effort to
    monitor compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 688 and to
    provide humanitarian relief in northern Iraq, discourages significant
    Iraqi military operations against the inhabitants there. On the other
    hand, the Iraqi Government has maintained an embargo of food, fuel, and
    medicine on northern Iraq. It has made every effort to frustrate U.N.
    humanitarian relief efforts by planting bombs on relief convoys, using
    violence against relief workers, and creating bureaucratic delays. We
    are determined to assist the humanitarian effort and have repeatedly
    warned Iraq to cease its harassment.
        As in southern Iraq, Saddam Hussein has sought to interfere with the
    operations of Coalition aircraft in the north since early January. On
    January 17, 18, and 19, 1993, Coalition aircraft encountered hostile
    Iraqi activity and took limited defensive actions to suppress Iraqi air
    defenses. On January 17, 1993, Coalition aircraft shot down an Iraqi
    aircraft after it entered the no-fly zone.
        We continue to support the efforts of the Iraq National Congress to
    develop a broad-based alternative to the Saddam regime. We encourage
    other governments to do the same. The Congress espouses a future Iraq
    based on the principles of political pluralism, territorial unity, and
    full compliance with all the U.N. Security Council resolutions.
        Until Iraq's recent violations of its obligations, UNSCOM and the
    International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continued to investigate
    Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs and to verify the
    destruction of relevant facilities, equipment, and weapons. UNSCOM 45,
    the fourteenth ballistic missile team (October 16 to 29, 1992), with
    significant Russian cooperation, did not find evidence of a clandestine
    Iraqi SCUD force.

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    Fuel and oxidizer samples were analyzed and tested negative for
    substances of interest.
        Two nuclear inspections were carried out. UNSCOM 46/IAEA #15
    (November 8 to 18, 1992) completed water sampling at 37 additional sites
    throughout Iraq. Analysis of more than 550 water and sediment samples is
    underway, although evidence of any major facility in Iraq that is
    producing fissionable fuel has not yet been found. The team also
    destroyed 100 tons of steel which Iraq declared had been procured for
    its centrifuge program. IAEA #16 was part of UNSCOM 47 (December 5 to 8,
    1992). The team reinspected the former headquarters of the PC-3 project
    (where important documents had been seized) and carried out inspections
    at Tuwaitha and al Atheer.
        The third combined chemical and biological weapons inspection,
    UNSCOM 47 (December 5 to 14, 1992), focused on question-and-answer
    sessions with Iraqi scientists to close gaps in Iraqi disclosures about
    its CBW programs and short-notice inspections to pressure Iraq to reveal
    more details about those programs.
        Since my last report, the Chemical Destruction Group in residence at
    the Muthanna State Establishment destroyed the following items: 300
    122mm rocket warheads; propellant for 750 122mm rockets; 82 122mm rocket
    motors; and 2830 liters nerve agent (GB/GF).
        The Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission continues its work,
    without Iraqi participation. The land boundary has been demarcated
    through the placement of boundary pillars in the ground. At its last
    meeting, the Boundary Commission agreed to begin the demarcation of the
    offshore boundary section.
        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 to be held in Geneva from March 29 to April
    2, 1993, with another meeting in July 1993.
        At its most recent session, December 14 to 18, 1992, the Governing
    Council took decisions on trade embargo losses, interest, and a
    committee on administrative matters. The Council discussed the issues of
    priority of payments, costs, and attorney fees. The Executive Secretary
    reported that the Commission has now received about 380,000 claims and
    expects many times that number. He noted that the Commission hopes to be
    able to present to panels of Commissioners the first claims for fixed
    amounts for departure and personal injury by the middle of 1993 and the
    first claims for individuals' actual losses up to $100,000 later in the
    year.
        The U.S. Government is prepared to file its third set of 170
    consolidated individual claims with the Commission, bringing the total
    of U.S. claims filed to 550. The Department of State is reviewing about
    1,000 additional claims received from individuals and corporations. The
    next filing is scheduled for March.
        In accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 687, the
    Sanctions Committee received notices of 13.5 million tons of foodstuffs
    to be shipped to Iraq through November 22, 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
    has also refused to use the opportunity under U.N. Security Council
    Resolutions 706 and 712 to sell up to $1.6 billion in oil, proceeds from
    which could be used to purchase foodstuffs, medicines, materials, and
    supplies for essential civilian needs, as well as to fund essential U.N.
    activities concerning Iraq. The Iraqi authorities bear full
    responsibility for any suffering in Iraq that results from their refusal
    to implement Resolutions 706 and 712.
        Since my last report, important progress has been made in addressing
    U.N. financial difficulties in conducting a number of activities in Iraq
    as a result of Iraq's refusal to implement Resolutions 706 and 712. In
    December, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia made total voluntary contributions of
    $50 million to the U.N. escrow account established under Resolution 778.
    Pursuant to Executive Order No. 12817, the United States has transferred
    a matching amount from certain frozen Iraqi

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    oil proceeds, making a total of $100 million transferred to the escrow
    account.
        Of this total, $21 million has been transferred to the U.N.
    Compensation Fund under the terms of Resolution 778; this should be
    sufficient to allow it to proceed with the acquisition of the computer
    system and staff needed to begin full-scale adjudication of claims
    against Iraq. In addition, $30 million has been earmarked for UNSCOM,
    and most of the remainder will provide humanitarian relief in Iraq.
        As I noted in my last report, we are prepared to transfer up to $200
    million in frozen Iraqi oil proceeds to the escrow account to match
    transfers by others, and we are actively encouraging others to do so.
    These funds will be repaid, with interest, from Iraqi oil revenues as
    soon as Iraqi oil exports resume.
        Through the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC), the
    United States, Kuwait, and our allies continue to press the Government
    of Iraq to comply with its obligations to repatriate or account for some
    800 detained Kuwaiti and third-country nationals. An emissary of the
    Arab League has also undertaken to elicit Iraqi cooperation on the issue
    of detainees. 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.
        In this my last report under the joint resolution, let me again note
    how grateful I am for the support and cooperation Congress provided
    during my Administration toward achieving our mutual objectives in the
    Persian Gulf region.
        Sincerely,
                                                       George Bush

    Note: This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 20. Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of
    the House of Representatives, and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.