ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96031203.NNE
DATE:03/12/96
TITLE:12-03-96 TEXT: U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL LETTER TO AMBASSADOR EKEUS
TEXT:
(UNSC backs U.N. Weapons Inspectors in Iraq) (540)
United Nations -- The Security Council March 12 sent a firm letter of
support to Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, chairman of the Special Commission
overseeing the destruction of Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM), reiterating its
position that Iraq must grant U.N. weapons inspectors immediate and
unconditional access to any site.
The council sent the letter to Ekeus after UNSCOM met resistance from
Iraqi officials twice in four days. Council President Legwaila
Legwaila of Botswana read the letter to journalists after a closed
door council meeting and then called in Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Hamdoon
to pass on a copy.
In the letter, the council clearly stated that all 15 council members
were concerned by the incidents and expressed full support for
UNSCOM's work. It stated that both incidents were "clear violations"
of Security Council resolutions.
Following is the text of the Security Council's letter to Rolf Ekeus,
Executive Chairman of the Special Commission overseeing the
destruction of Iraqi weapons:
(Begin text)
The members of the Security Council have followed with concern the
incident described in your letter of 9 March 1996 when immediate
access was not allowed by the Iraqi authorities to a Special
Commission inspection team which sought access to a site in Baghdad
designated for inspection by the Special Commission. The members of
the Council have also learned with concern of the further incident on
11 March 1996 when an inspection team was again not allowed immediate
and unconditional access to a site similarly designated by the Special
Commission. In both cases access was subsequently granted only after
unacceptable delays.
The members of the Council fully support your~ ~~continued efforts and
those of the inspection teams in Iraq on the basis of relevant
Security Council Resolutions. They endorse the contents of your letter
of 9 March 1996. They recall that under paragraph 9 (b) (i) of section
C of Security Council resolution 687 (1991), Iraq is required to
permit "immediate on-site inspection of Iraq's biological, chemical
and missile capabilities, based on Iraq's declarations and the
designation of any additional locations by the Special Commission
itself." By its resolution 707 (1991) the Council also expressly
demanded that Iraq ~"allow the Special Commission, the I~AEA and their
Inspection Teams immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted access to
any and all areas, facilities, equipment, records and means of
transport~~~~~ation which they wish to inspect." The obligation is
furthermore confirmed in the Commission's plan for ongoing monitoring
and verification which was approved in the Security Council resolution
715 (1991).
The members of the Council consider that Iraq's delay in permitting
access to the inspection team currently in Iraq to the site~s
concerned constitutes a clear violation by Iraq of the provisions of
resolutions 687 (1991), 707 (1991) and 715 ~(1991~). The members of
the Council reiterate that the Government of Iraq must allow the
Special Commission inspection team immediate, unconditional and
unrestricted access to all sites designated by the Commission for
inspection.
The members of the Council reiterate their full confidence in the
execution by the Special Commission of the tasks entrusted to it by
the Council.
(End text)
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