[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 19 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Pages 795-797]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Iraq

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 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 imple- 

[[Page 796]]

menting 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 escorting 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.

[[Page 797]]

    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.