STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. MOHAMMED ALDOURI
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF IRAQ

to the UN in the Security Council’s
open meeting on Iraq

New York

March 19, 2003

"In the name of God the Merciful the compassionate"

Mr. President,

At the outset I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for the efforts exerted by the permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council aimed at reaching a peaceful resolution to the current crisis which was created by the United States, the United Kingdom and Spain with the intention of launching a hostile war against Iraq and occupying it under the pretext of weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. President,

Just to remind of the positions and for the sake of history and to assure the states that acted during the recent period towards peace and preventing war, we reiterate once again that Iraq no longer possess weapons of mass destruction and that is a matter reverted to a long ago period, especially after it decided in 1991 to destroy what it produced of weapons emanating from a faith and a conviction upon which Iraq adopted its policy to rid itself of this kind of weapons.

In affirmation the United States and Britain failed in proving any allegation of the possession by Iraq of these weapons during the past years and especially during the period following the adoption of resolution 1441.

In this regard the international inspectors refuted all the deceiving data presented by the United States and Britain and proved them wrong, including the data the Secretary of State of the United States worked hard to present in front of the council as damning evidence. After these two countries failed in providing even one evidence and felt that the world is starting to realize the truth that Iraq is clear of weapons of mass destruction, they decided to expose their real intentions in occupying Iraq and controlling the oil wells in it.

This is the only truth and no other exists and the next days will prove its validity, but then it will be too late.

Mr. President,

I don’t want to talk in detail on the report of Dr. Blix before you that is related to main disarmament tasks, suffice it to say that Iraq had requested this report for a long time and had presented a lot of data in the framework of these tasks and that it welcomes the report and will do its utmost in completing these tasks as soon as possible and answer all the questions posed by it. Iraq has also completed two reports, one concerning anthrax and the other concerning the unmanned planes, which we will deliver to UNMOVIC.

Mr. President,

I find myself obliged to bring the attention of the august council to the reality of the already deteriorated humanitarian situation due to the unjust embargo and the delay in receiving humanitarian supplies in accordance with the oil-for-food program for well known reasons. This situation will worsen despite the fact that the concerned Iraqi authorities are satisfying those needs for a reasonable period of time. Yet electricity, potable water, sewage treatment, communications and other essential needs that cannot be stored or distributed will be affected or will be destroyed as it happened in 1991 and this will lead to a real humanistic tragedy, a human being cannot live by bread alone and thus the responsibility of the Security Council and the Secretary General is a direct responsibility in the event war occurs.

Mr. President,

The direct humanitarian effects of the military aggression means tens of thousands of causalities and complete destruction to the infrastructure and spread of epidemics and diseases. All that to coincide with seizing the work of all United Nations Agencies in Iraq in the fields of health, education, relief, preserving the environment and other humanitarian activities and the suspension of the oil-for-food program and the withdrawal of all concerned international staff in record time in these circumstances. This is a matter that really provokes astonishment. This conduct and the decision to withdraw the inspectors have in fact paved the way for the United States and Britain to commit their military aggression against Iraq.

Hence the delegation of my country deems that the council in order to minimize the size of the catastrophe it should renew expeditiously the work of the oil-for-food program especially that there are humanitarian goods amounting to more than 10 billion dollars on their way to Iraq the delay of which will have dire negative effects particularly those goods relating to food, medicine and essential civilian needs.

Mr. President,

In light of the dangers awaiting Iraq, the region and the world I don’t believe the gentlemen members of the council and the Secretary General are in need to be reminded of their responsibilities in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations in keeping international peace and security especially in the event there is a threat to peace or a violation to it or the occurrence of aggression.

The threat of aggression against Iraq by the United States and Britain and the likelihood of its occurrence in fact within hours from now compels the council to immediately take the necessary steps to ensure international peace and security or reverting it to its stance particularly after the United States had confirmed through its president its intentions to launch war against Iraq and occupying it regardless of the circumstances.

In conclusion we would to reiterate that Iraq will continue to work the Security Council to present the truth that it is free of weapons of mass destruction and that it hopes the council will continue to search for a peaceful solution and the continuation of the inspectors.

Thank you Mr. President.