03 March 1998
UNITED NATIONS REPORT, MARCH 3, 1998
(UNSC passes resolution on Iraq) (1020) UNSC UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSES MOU REACHED BY ANNAN IN BAGHDAD The following is from late in the evening of March 2, the top item from the UN's daily news round-up as prepared by the Central News Section of the Department of Public Information; the UNSC resolution was passed at about 8:15pm EST. on March 2: (begin text) -- Security Council endorses memorandum of understanding signed in Baghdad, stressing that any violation would have "severest consequences" for Iraq. -- UN Official who accompanied the Secretary-General in Baghdad says careful preparations led to agreement. The Security Council on Monday evening endorsed the memorandum of understanding reached by Secretary-General Kofi Annan one week ago in Baghdad. At the same time, the Council stressed that any violation by Iraq of its obligation under the memorandum and and relevant Council resolutions to accord "immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access" to United Nations weapons inspectors would have the "severest consequences" for Iraq. Following days of intensive deliberations, the Council adopted resolution 1154 (1998) by a unanimous vote. The resolution invokes Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which allows for enforcement. The resolution commends the Secretary-General's initiative and requests him to report to the Council as soon as possible on the finalization of procedures for Presidential sites. Mr. Annan is requested to prepare his report in consultation with the Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) charged with overseeing the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Council reaffirmed its intention to act in accordance with the relevant provisions of resolution 687 (1991) -- which spells out conditions for lifting the sanctions against Iraq -- and noted that "by its failure so far to comply with its relevant obligations Iraq has delayed the moment when the Council can do so". The Council further decided to remain actively seized of the matter "in order to ensure implementation of this resolution and to secure peace and security in the area". "Whether the threat to international peace and security has been averted for all time is now in the hands of the Iraqi leadership," Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council as the meeting began. "It is now for them to comply in practice with what they have signed on paper." Mr. Annan said that with the Security Council's resolution, Iraq should understand that "if this effort to ensure compliance through negotiation is obstructed, by evasion or deception, as were previous efforts, diplomacy many not have a second chance". The Secretary-General further looked forward to the day "sooner or later -- and we pray sooner" when a fully disarmed and peaceable Iraq would be able to rejoin the family of nations. The Secretary-General also predicted that if the agreement succeeded, it would spell "an enduring and invaluable precedent for the United Nations and the world community." "If, ultimately, we have learned the right lessons of this crisis, then this planet's age-old prayer for enduring peace with justice may be within our reach," Mr. Annan said. "It was that prayer, from people of every faith and every frontier, that sustained me on my journey for peace in Baghdad. I pledge today, before this Council and the world, to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield in the fulfilment of my duty," he concluded. "Any -- repeat any -- attempt by Iraq to provide less than immediate, unrestricted, unconditional access to any site will, as this resolution states, result in the severest consequences for Iraq," said United States Ambassador Bill Richardson. "Unless Iraq demonstrates that it is ready to rejoin the international community and abide by the rules of civilized behaviour, it can expect nothing but certain punishment and continued isolation," he warned. China's Ambassador said his country still had misgivings about the "possible abuse" of the resolution. "Therefore, I wish to stress here that the passing of this resolution in no way means that the Security Council automatically authorizes any State to use force against Iraq," said Qin Huasun. He further emphasized that the Council should not predetermine the future course of action. This view was shared by Russia's Ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, who said the resolution clearly gave the Security Council responsibility for its implementation. "Any hint has been excluded about automaticity with regard to the application of force, which would be unacceptable for the majority of the Council." If the memorandum was violated -- and it was hoped that it would not be -- the Council would discuss what action to take. "No one can ignore the resolution adopted today and attempt to act by bypassing the Security Council," he stated. A member of the Secretary-General's delegation to Iraq last week said on Monday that careful preparations had paved the way for the successful conclusion of the memorandum of understanding. Ahmad Fawzi, the Director of the United Nations Information Centre in London, said the Secretary-General's extensive consultations in advance of his trip had mobilized consensus support for the mission. "Before he boarded the plane, he already had the support of the Security Council, the support and encouragement of the leaders of the region, and his own assessment based on a thorough study of the file of the inspections portfolio." Mr. Fawzi further noted that the Secretary-General had sent a mapping team to the presidential sites before he even left New York. In an interview with United Nations Radio, Mr. Fawzi also attributed the success to the Secretary-General's diplomatic skills, noting that in Baghdad, "most of the intensive consultations and talks with the Iraqis were quite constructive." Echoing the views of others, Mr. Fawzi said that in addition to averting a military confrontation, the conclusion of the agreement had served to reassert the prestige of the United Nations as a peacemaking body and the role of the Secretary-General as a "statesman of goodwill" who works according to the Charter to reduce tensions and avert military confrontation throughout the world. (end text)
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