Tracking Number: 236965
Title: "World Community Said Steadfast in Policy Toward Iraq." US Ambassador to the UN Edward Perkins told a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee that the international community
remains steadfast in its determination to ensure full Iraqi compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. (920729)
Translated Title: La communaute internationale fait front a l Irak. (920729)
Author:
MANDINE, ROSALIND (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19920729
Text:
WORLD COMMUNITY SAID STEADFAST IN POLICY TOWARD IRAQ
(Seeks Iraqi compliance with U.N. measures) (820) By Rosalind Mandine USIA Staff Writer Washington -- The international community remains steadfast in its determination to ensure full Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, State Department officials told members of Congress July 29.
Iraq has a poor record of compliance with U.N. resolutions thus far, according to Edward Perkins, U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, and George Ward, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs.
The officials testified before a joint hearing of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittees on Europe and the Middle East, and Human Rights and International Organizations.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein "has openly violated the decisions of the Security Council, and, by word and deed, has defied the authority of the United Nations in an increasingly grave and provocative manner," Perkins said.
Enumerating many instances of Iraqi failure to comply with U.N. Security Council measures, he said:
-- Iraq has delayed and prevented U.N. inspection teams from examining facilities believed to contain materials associated with Iraq's production of weapons of mass destruction;
-- Iraq has allowed, "and we suspect orchestrated," a deterioration in the security of U.N. personnel, which has resulted in numerous attacks, including the shooting death of a U.N. humanitarian guard;
-- Iraq has repudiated the authority of the U.N. Commission to demarcate its border with Kuwait and has refused to participate in the most recent session of that commission;
-- Iraq has violated Resolution 688 in failing to extend an agreement allowing the United Nations to bring humanitarian relief to Iraqis denied adequate food, medicine and essential supplies;
-- Iraq has broken off negotiations on Resolutions 706 and 712, which would allow Iraq to sell oil in exchange for food and end the continued suffering of its population, and
-- Iraq has continued and intensified attacks against its Shia population in the south, constituting another violation of Resolution 688.
Perkins also said there "has been very little progress" on the return of prisoners of war and civilian detainees held against their will in Iraq. He noted that Iraq has rejected requests made by the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit prisons and detention centers.
In reference to the demarcation of the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait, Ward noted that recent statements by Iraqi officials are once again questioning Kuwait's sovereignty.
Ward also noted that while there has been some progress on the return of stolen Kuwait property, the United Nations is "disturbed about the slow rate of return."
"These actions, viewed in their entirety, are nothing less than a clear and open challenge to the authority of the Security Council and the United Nations Charter. In the case of the denial of access to the weapons inspection team and the attacks upon U.N. personnel, the implications are particularly grave," Perkins said.
"Iraq should take care not to forget its status. It is subject, by virtue of its outlaw behavior, to mandatory obligations for which enforcement authority already exists," he said.
"The international community cannot afford and does not intend to let Iraq repudiate those obligations," he stressed.
Asked about the option of using military force to ensure compliance, Perkins said "there is a consensus in the (Security) Council that the Council has already extended the authority by which to compel compliance with the cease-fire accord."
While no member of the Security Council has proposed the use of force in seeking compliance, there is "unanimity in agreeing that Saddam Hussein is committing acts that the Security Council cannot allow to continue," Perkins said.
Perkins noted that the United States plans to bring up in the Security Council the issue of Iraq's non-compliance with Resolution 688 regarding its treatment of humanitarian relief organizations and its treatment of Shia and Kurdish populations in Iraq.
Perkins also suggested that the United Nations "step up the inspections and put Saddam Hussein to the test, not once, but time and time again."
Representatives Robert Torricelli and Tom Lantos expressed their concern over the decision not to allow American members of the reconfigured U.N. inspection team to enter the Ministry of Agriculture in Iraq.
Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, chairman of the special U.N. inspection commission, reconfigured the team as a result of the recent stand-off between Iraqi officials and U.N. inspection members outside the Ministry of Agriculture in Baghdad. The two American members of the team are to remain outside the building to examine the materiel, rather than inspect it inside.
Perkins stressed that Ekeus has "the authority to develop a team based upon what he considers to be the objectives" of the team. Ekeus can "decide who he would like to put on that team," he said, adding that Iraq "did not have the right to veto" his decision.
NNNN
File Identification: 07/29/92, PO-309; 07/29/92, EP-304; 07/29/92, EU-306; 07/30/92, AE-404; 07/30/92, AR-408; 07/31/92, AF-503
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Languages: French
Keywords: UNITED NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; SANCTIONS; PERSIAN GULF WAR; ARMISTICE; IRAQ-US RELATIONS/Policy; CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY; PERKINS, EDWARD/Policy; INSPECTIONS; ARMS CONTROL
VERIFICATION
Thematic Codes: 1NE; 1AC; 1UN
Target Areas: EA; EU; AF; AR
PDQ Text Link: 236965; 237265
USIA Notes: *92072909.POL
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