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14 January 1998

TEXT: UNSC PRESIDENT'S JANUARY 14 STATEMENT ON IRAQ INSPECTIONS

(Council repeats demand for full, immediate compliance) (480)
United Nations -- The U.N. Security Council has issued a statement
deploring Iraq's failure to allow its weapons inspectors access to
suspected weapons sites.
In a statement issued January 14, the Council demanded that "Iraq
cooperate fully and immediately and without conditions or restrictions
on the Special Commission."
The statement, read by Council President Alain Dejammet of France,
gave the Council's full support to the Special Commission (UNSCOM)
overseeing the destruction of Iraqi weapons and its Executive
Chairman, Ambassador Richard Butler.
It referred to previous Council statements and its resolution that
condemned Baghdad's decision to bar U.S. weapons inspectors and warned
of "serious consequences" if it did not allow the United Nations to
operate as it sees fit. The resolution also placed a travel ban on all
Iraqi officials and members of the Iraqi armed forces who block
operations.
The Security Council's January 14 statement was issued in response to
Iraqi refusal to cooperate with a group of U.N. inspectors headed by
Scott Ritter, a U.S. citizen.
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
Presidential Statement
The Security Council deplores the statement of the Iraqi official
spokesman of 12 January 1998 and Iraq's subsequent failure to fulfill
its obligations to provide the Special Commission with full,
unconditional, and immediate access to all sites. The Council
determines that this failure is unacceptable and a clear violation of
the relevant resolutions.
The Security Council recalls the statement of its President of 29
October 1997 in which the Council condemned the decision of the
Government of Iraq to try to dictate the terms of its compliance with
its obligations to cooperate with the Special Commission.
The Security Council reiterates its demand, contained in resolution
1137 (1997), that Iraq cooperate fully and immediately and without
conditions or restrictions with the Special Commission in accordance
with the relevant resolutions, which constitute the governing standard
of Iraqi compliance.
The Security Council expresses its full support for the Special
Commission and its Executive Chairman, including in his forthcoming
travel to Iraq to continue his discussions with officials of the
Government of Iraq aimed at the full implementation of the relevant
resolutions and at increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the
operations of the Special Commission to this end. In this context, the
Council recalls the statements of its President of 3 December 1997 and
22 December 1997 and encourages the efforts reported to it by the
Executive Chairman.
The Security Council requests a full briefing by the Executive
Chairman on these discussions as soon as possible after they have
taken place, so that it can decide as necessary on an appropriate
response on the basis of the relevant resolutions.
The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.
(end text)