[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 28 (Monday, July 15, 1996)]
[Pages 1206-1208]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Iraq

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 hei- 

[[Page 1207]]

nous 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 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.

[[Page 1208]]

    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 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.