ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96061403.NNE
DATE:06/14/96
TITLE:14-06-96 TEXT: UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON IRAQ
TEXT:
(Council will not negotiate access for weapons inspectors) (830)
United Nations -- The Security Council June 14 rejected an Iraqi
attempt to negotiate conditions for unannounced visits of possible
weapons sites in Iraq by U.N. inspectors.
After a day during which the crisis between Iraq and the U.N.
worsened, the council issued a presidential statement at a formal
session "condemning" Iraq for denying the visits and "attempting to
impose conditions" on the inspections.
U.S. Ambassador Madeleine Albright said that the United States is
"very pleased" with the stand the council took.
"What we're very pleased with is that this presidential statement says
in plain English ... that this is a new dimension of noncompliance, a
serious step backwards, and a clear and flagrant violation of
resolution 687 which, as you know, establishes the cease-fire and the
preconditions essential to the restoration of peace and security in
the region," Albright said.
The stand-off between Iraq and the United Nations escalated June 14
when Baghdad barred U.N. weapons experts from two more sites and
trained anti-aircraft guns on U.N. helicopters trying to maintain
surveillance over sites declared off limits to U.N. weapons
inspectors. The U.N. team of 54 inspectors, meanwhile, were keeping
round-the-clock vigils outside three sites to try to keep Iraq from
removing documents and possible weapons-related material from the
sites.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz forwarded an offer to U.N.
headquarters suggesting that if the U.N. Commission overseeing the
destruction of Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM) wanted to enter sites Iraq
considers related to national security, Iraqi and UNSCOM officials
would enter the sites together.
The council rejected those conditions and asked UNSCOM Chairman Rolf
Ekeus to visit Baghdad to "secure immediate, unconditional and
unrestricted access to all sites which the Special Commission wishes
to inspect and to engage in a forward-looking dialogue on other issues
under the commission's mandate."
Ekeus is scheduled to leave for Baghdad June 17.
Albright told journalists that the presidential statement "makes very
clear that there can be no conditions placed on the access to the
sites."
"What we have done now is make sure that Chairman Ekeus has a very
strong message to deliver and an unequivocal statement that there can
be no restrictions on entrance into the sites," Albright said.
Asked what other measures the council and the U.S. were considering,
Albright said that "we're taking this a step at a time" and will wait
for Ekeus' report after his trip to Baghdad.
After the session, Ekeus said that he was "happy the council is taking
this very constructive line." He said that the 15 members of the
council "showed a very strong, united will."
The statement, Ekeus said "is not in any way negative -- it is a
constructive and firm line." Ekeus added, however, that he would not
be going to Iraq to negotiate.
On June 12 the council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Iraq
grant unconditional access to the inspectors after Baghdad flatly
refused to allow a team of weapons experts looking for documents,
missiles or missile launchers and material relating to nuclear weapons
programs into two Republican Guard sites earlier in the week.
Following is the text of the council's statement:
(Begin text)
SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT
The Security Council condemns the failure of Iraq to comply with its
resolution 1060 (1996) of 12 June 1996 by refusing access to sites
designated by the Special Commission on 13 June 1996. Coming after the
denial of access on 11 and 12 June 1996, this new dimension of
non-compliance marks a serious step backwards in Iraq's cooperation
with the Special Commission. The Council considers that these events
constitute a clear and flagrant violation of resolutions 697 (1991),
707 (1991) and 719 (1991).
The Security Council reiterates its full support for the Special
Commission in the conduct of its inspections and the other tasks
entrusted to it by the Council. The Council rejects attempts by Iraq
to impose conditions on the conduct of inspections by the Special
Commission.
The Security Council demands once again that Iraq comply with the
relevant resolutions of the Council, and, in particular, allow the
inspection teams of the Special Commission immediate, unconditional
and unrestricted access to any and all areas, facilities, equipment,
records and means of transportation which they wish to inspect.
The Security Council requests the Chairman of the Special Commission
to visit Baghdad as soon as possible with a view to securing
immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites which
the Special Commission wishes to inspect, and to engage in a
forward-looking dialogue on other issues under the Commission's
mandate. It further requests the Chairman to report immediately
afterwards on the results of his visit and on the impact of Iraqi
policies on the mandate and work of the Special Commission.
(End text)
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