BACKGROUND NOTES ON IRAQ
Iraq – what is the UN doing?

FRANCE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

- If there is one issue on which the Security Council has demonstrated its ability to act, its responsible attitude and its firmness, it's certainly Iraq.

On Iraq, the Security Council's responsible attitude and firm stand, particularly those of its permanent members, are proven

 

- Confronted with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the Council adopted UNSCR 660 (1990) that same night. UNSCR 661 (1990) which adopts sanctions against Iraq was passed the following day. UNSCR 678 (1990) explicitly authorized recourse to force by the member States. Following Kuwait's liberation, UNSCR 687 (1991) clearly placed strict obligations upon Iraq.

- What's more, of those four resolutions passed by a large majority, the first two and last were supported by all five permanent members. Only China abstained on UNSCR 678 (1990).

- Since 1990, the Security Council has never failed, when the situation so required, firmly to remind Iraq of her obligations, condemn any non-compliance with them and, where necessary, to confirm that this would lay Iraq open to the most serious consequences. Up until 1998, thanks to this firm stand, the inspectors were able to achieve significant results on the disarmament front. These inspectors destroyed many more weapons of mass destruction than Operation Desert Storm.

 

- UNSCR 1284 (1999), passed in order to take on board the lessons of the failure of United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), was essentially, and particularly in respect of its part A, to do with the inspections regime, drafted by the United States and United Kingdom.

- France showed her determination to ensure its implementation (aid-mémoire, recruitment, etc.)

- It was in particular France who worked for the appointment of the present Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). Mr Hans Blix had himself also demonstrated his determination and firmness as Director-General of the IAEA in the 1990s, in Iraq – where in 1998 the nuclear programme has been regarded as dismantled – as on other issues (North Korea).

 

- The Iraqi letter of 16 September this year, accepting the inspectors' unconditional return, seems to us to be the result of the firm stand taken by the whole international community: Security Council member States, League of Arab States, all United Nations member States.

- The unity of the international community and particularly of the Security Council is a crucial factor in compelling Saddam to obey the obligations resulting from the Council resolutions.

 So there is, to our mind, no reason to question the determination of the Security Council member States on the Iraq issue, any more than its ability to shoulder, if necessary, its responsibilities. Consequently, it is a mistake to assert that the two-stage approach we are advocating on the use of force would not constitute an effective threat.