August 6, 1998

Mr. PAPPAS (for himself, Mr. MCINTOSH, and Mr. GRAHAM) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Concerning Iraqi development of weapons of mass destruction.

Whereas the development of weapons of mass destruction by rogue states is one of the greatest threats to world peace and stability;

Whereas Iraq has attacked 4 sovereign nations in blatant violation of international law;

Whereas Iraq has developed and used chemical weapons and ballistic missiles;

Whereas the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions against Iraq and authorized teams of international inspectors to supervise the destruction of Iraqi weapons and the dismantling of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs;

Whereas 7 years after Iraq agreed to Security Council demands to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, these inspectors continue to suspect Iraq still is hiding its nuclear weapons capabilities;

Whereas the government of Iraq has repeatedly tried to hinder the work of these inspection teams and is refusing to provide information about key aspects of its nuclear program;

Whereas the Security Council has extended the sanctions regimes based on evidence of Iraqi noncompliance collected by these inspectors;

Whereas without these inspections, there is little doubt that Iraq would continue these weapons programs unabated;

Whereas the Security Council will meet in October to consider reauthorizing all United Nations inspections in Iraq;

Whereas several nations, including France, Russia, and China, are eager to end the sanctions on Iraq; and

Whereas proposals to relax the current international inspections regime would allow Iraq to move forward on these weapon programs, posing devastating consequences for international security: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

SECTION 1. It is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

(1) the international agencies charged with inspections in Iraq--the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM)--must continue to maintain complete inspections, including surprise inspections, within Iraq; and

(2) the United States Representative to the United Nations should vehemently oppose any efforts to weaken the inspections regimes on Iraq as long as there is evidence that the government of Iraq is seeking to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.

SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to provide a copy of this resolution to representatives of all countries that are members of the United Nations Security Council.