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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

USIS Washington File

24 June 1998

TEXT: PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON IRAQ'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH UNSC RESOLUTIONS

(Iraq remains serious threat to international peace, security) (4000)
Washington -- "Iraq remains a serious threat to international peace
and security," President Clinton reported to Congress June 24.
In his report on the status of efforts to obtain Iraq's compliance
with the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), covering the period from April 3 to the present, the President
said he remains "determined to see Iraq comply fully with all of its
obligations under UNSC resolutions."
"Iraqi biological and chemical weapons remain the most troubling
issues for UNSCOM," the President said. "This is due to the innate
dual-use nature of the technology; it can easily be hidden within
civilian industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry for
biological agents and the pesticide industry for chemical agents. Iraq
continues to resist making a full and complete declaration of its
biological weapons programs, as required by UNSCR 707.
"Following its March technical evaluation meetings, UNSCOM concluded
that Iraq has not provided a clear statement of the current status of
the programs. ... UNSCOM also suspects Iraq may be concealing
additional, as-yet undisclosed, biological weapons research or
development programs." he reported.
The President also cited Iraq's human rights situation, which he said,
"continues to be a cause for grave concern. Summary, arbitrary, and
extra-judicial executions remain a primary concern."
"In southern Iraq, the government continues to repress the Shi'a
population, destroying the Marsh Arabs' way of life and the unique
ecology of the southern marshes. In the north, outside the
Kurdish-controlled areas, the government continues the forced
expulsion of tens of thousands of ethnic Kurds and Turkomans from
Kirkuk and other cities. The government continues to stall and
obfuscate attempts to account for more than 600 Kuwaitis and
third-country nationals who disappeared at the hands of Iraqi
authorities during or after the occupation of Kuwait. In the course of
recent prisoner exchanges brokered by the ICRC, Iraq has released more
than 300 Iranian prisoners of war taken during the Iran-Iraq war in
exchange for 5,600 Iraqi POWs. Yet the Government of Iraq shows no
sign of complying with UNSCR 688, which demands that Iraq cease the
repression of its own people," he said.
President Clinton reported that:
-- The U.S. continues to support the international community's efforts
to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people through the
"oil-for-food" program and other humanitarian efforts.
-- On May 1, I signed into law the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations
and Rescissions Act. This legislation provides funding for Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty to initiate a surrogate broadcast service for the
Iraqi people. It also provides funding for efforts to support the
democratic Iraqi opposition in presenting a credible alternative to
the present Iraqi regime and compiling information to support the
indictment of Iraqi officials for war crimes.
-- The United States will keep a significant military presence in the
region to provide the full range of military options necessary to
deter Iraqi aggression, to ensure that UNSC resolutions are enforced,
and to deal with other contingencies that may arise.
-- The United States and coalition partners continue to enforce the
no-fly zones over Iraq under Operation Northern Watch and Operation
Southern Watch.
"The United States looks forward to the day when Iraq rejoins the
family of nations as a responsible and law-abiding member," he
concluded.
Following is the text of the President's letter to Congress:
(Begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
June 24, 1998
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
June 24, 1998
Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
Consistent with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) and as part of my effort to keep
the Congress fully informed, I am reporting on the status of efforts
to obtain Iraq's compliance with the resolutions adopted by the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC). This report covers the period from
April 3 to the present.
Introduction
During the 60-day period covered by this report, Iraq continued to
provide access to U.N. weapons inspectors as required under the terms
of the February 23 Annan-Aziz MOU and UNSC Resolution 1154. Travel
restrictions on Iraq imposed under UNSC Resolution 1137 of November
12, 1997 expired by their terms after UNSCOM Executive Chairman Butler
reported that Iraq was complying with access requirements. In
accordance with UNSC Resolution 1134, regular sanctions reviews have
resumed. However, Iraq's continued failure to meet its obligations
under UNSC Resolution 687 and other relevant resolutions led the
Security Council to conclude on April 27 that Iraq still had not met
the conditions necessary to enable the Council to lift sanctions.
Ongoing UNSCOM and IAEA inspections continue to test Iraq's long-term
intentions with regard to providing full access and full disclosure to
U.N. weapons inspectors.
We continue to support the international community's efforts to
provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people through the
"oil-for-food" program and other humanitarian efforts. Resolution
1153, which was adopted by the UNSC on February 20, expands the
"oil-for-food" program considerably by raising the ceiling of
permitted Iraqi oil exports to $5.2 billion every 180 days and by
authorizing repairs to Iraq's degraded petroleum, health, education,
and sanitation infrastructure under strict U.N. supervision in
accordance with a prioritized distribution plan.
During the period covered by this report, the humanitarian needs of
the Iraqi people were addressed through Phase Three of the original
"oil-for-food" plan in accordance with UNSCRs 986 and 1143. The Iraqi
government only recently produced an acceptable distribution plan to
implement UNSCR 1153.
On May 1, I signed into law the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and
Rescissions Act. This legislation provides funding for Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty to initiate a surrogate broadcast service for the
Iraqi people. It also provides funding for efforts to support the
democratic Iraqi opposition in presenting a credible alternative to
the present Iraqi regime and compiling information to support the
indictment of Iraqi officials for war crimes. These new programs will
enable us to redouble our work with the Iraqi opposition to support
their efforts to build a pluralistic, peaceful Iraq that observes the
international rule of law and respects basic human rights. Such an
Iraq would have little trouble regaining its rightful place in the
region and in the international community.
The United States will keep a significant military presence in the
region to provide the full range of military options necessary to
deter Iraqi aggression, to ensure that UNSC resolutions are enforced,
and to deal with other contingencies that may arise.
U.S. and Coalition Force Levels in the Gulf Region
In view of Saddam's record of brutality and unreliability, it is
prudent to retain a significant force presence in the region to deter
Iraq. United States and allied forces now in the region are prepared
to deal with contingencies. This gives us the capability to respond
rapidly to possible Iraqi aggression or threats against its neighbors.
As we make the force adjustments mentioned below, we are strengthening
a rapid redeployment capability to supplement our forces in the Gulf.
Our cruise missile force will be twice the pre-crisis level. In
addition, we will be able to double again our cruise missile force in
days. Once these moves are completed, this capability will allow for a
swift, powerful strike.
The aircraft carrier USS JOHN C. STENNIS and her accompanying battle
group combatant ships and combat aircraft remain in the region as
United States force levels are being reduced. The aircraft carriers
USS INDEPENDENCE and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON and their accompanying
battle group combatant ships left the region, as scheduled. Once force
level adjustments are completed, U.S. forces will include land and
carrier-based aircraft, surface warships, a Marine amphibious task
force, Patriot missile battalions, a mechanized battalion task force
and a mix of special operations forces deployed in support of
USCINCCENT operations. To enhance force protection throughout the
region, additional military security personnel are also deployed.
During the crisis, U.S. forces were augmented by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and
accompanying ships from the United Kingdom.
During our successful effort to compel Iraq's compliance with relevant
UNSC resolutions earlier this year, the United Kingdom and a number of
other nations pledged forces. Although all of the members of this
international effort sought a peaceful diplomatic resolution of the
crisis, all showed their resolve to achieve our common objective by
military force if that becomes necessary.
Twenty nations deployed forces to the region or readied their forces
for contingency deployment. Another 12 nations offered important
access, basing, overflight, and other assistance essential for the
multinational effort. Still others identified force contributions that
were held in reserve for deployment should the need arise. For those
nations with forces deployed during the crisis, most of these
governments redeployed their forces back home after the crisis in
keeping with our own force adjustments. These nations have made clear
their willingness to repeat this deployment should Iraq again
challenge the international community.
Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch
The United States and coalition partners continue to enforce the
no-fly zones over Iraq under Operation Northern Watch and Operation
Southern Watch. In response to a series of Iraqi no-fly zone
violations in October and November 1997, we increased the number of
aircraft participating in these operations. Since then, there have
been no observed no-fly zone violations. In early April, we restored
the preexisting level of aircraft deployed to Northern Watch. We have
made clear to the Government of Iraq and to all other relevant parties
that the United States and coalition partners will continue to enforce
both no-fly zones.
The Maritime Interception Force
The Maritime Interception Force (MIF), operating under the authority
of UNSCR 665, vigorously enforces U.N. sanctions in the Gulf. The U.S.
Navy is the single largest component of this multinational force, but
it is frequently augmented by ships and aircraft from Australia,
Canada, Belgium, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Today in the Gulf, ships from Canada, The Netherlands, and the United
Kingdom have joined with us in maritime patrols. Member states of the
Gulf Cooperation Council support the MIF by providing logistical
support and shipriders and by accepting vessels diverted for violating
U.N. sanctions against Iraq.
Since my last report, the MIF has intercepted several vessels involved
in illegal smuggling from Iraq. Although petroleum products comprise
most of the prohibited traffic, the MIF has recently diverted vessels
engaged in date smuggling as well. Ships involved in smuggling have
often utilized the territorial seas of Iran to avoid MIF inspections.
We have provided detailed reports of these illegal activities to the
U.N. Sanctions Committee in New York.
The level of petroleum smuggling from Iraq appears to be in a state of
flux. For several weeks, Iran ceased allowing gasoil smugglers to use
its territorial seas to avoid the MIF inspections, causing a dramatic
decrease in the level of gasoil smuggling. In recent weeks, however,
we have noted ships once again using Iranian waters with the apparent
aid of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces that operate in small
boats near the mouth of the Shatt Al Arab waterway. It is too early to
tell what the long-term policy of Iran will be in this matter,
although we are hopeful that it will take the necessary steps to curb
U.N. sanctions violations occurring within its territorial seas.
Our forces continue to benefit from recent actions by the United Arab
Emirates that make it difficult for sanctions violators to operate in
UAE territory. We will continue to work with the Emirates to find ways
to thwart the significant sanctions-busting trade which has
historically been bound for UAE ports. As noted in my last report, the
UAE has significantly increased its level of cooperation with the MIF.
These efforts have resulted in an increase in the number of ships
caught with illegal cargoes. In addition, the UAE has prohibited the
use of tankers, barges, and other vessel types to transport petroleum
products to UAE ports and through its waters or to store such products
there. While it is still too early to determine the full effect of
these measures, we are hopeful that these actions will deal a
significant blow to sanctions-busting activity in the region.
Biological and Chemical Weapons
Iraqi biological and chemical weapons remain the most troubling issues
for UNSCOM. This is due to the innate dual-use nature of the
technology; it can easily be hidden within civilian industries, such
as the pharmaceutical industry for biological agents and the pesticide
industry for chemical agents. Iraq continues to resist making a full
and complete declaration of its biological weapons programs, as
required by UNSCR 707.
Following its March technical evaluation meetings, UNSCOM concluded
that Iraq has not provided a clear statement of the current status of
the programs. Iraq's declaration still contains major mistakes,
inconsistencies, and gaps. It may substantially understate Iraq's
production of bulk biological weapons agents. UNSCOM is still unable
to verify that all of Iraq's SCUD missile warheads filled with
biological agents -- anthrax, botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin -- have
been destroyed. UNSCOM also suspects Iraq may be concealing
additional, as-yet undisclosed, biological weapons research or
development programs.
Nuclear Weapons and Delivery Systems
On May 14, the UNSC adopted a Presidential Statement on the most
recent UNSCOM and IAEA reports about Iraq's nuclear program. The
Statement notes that the IAEA's investigations over the past several
years have yielded a technically coherent picture of Iraq's
clandestine nuclear program, but that all outstanding unanswered
technical and substantive questions must be answered before the UNSC
will authorize the IAEA to move from inspections to ongoing monitoring
and verification in the nuclear field. While the bulk of its resources
are now devoted to monitoring, the IAEA will continue to exercise its
right to investigate any aspect of Iraq's nuclear program. The IAEA,
in a recent report, points out that Iraq still has not provided
information requested about certain sites, that concerns remain as to
the completeness, accuracy, and internal consistency of Iraq's nuclear
declaration and that Iraq has failed to enact laws prohibiting certain
activities.
Iraq's Concealment Mechanisms
From March 26 to April 2 UNSCOM conducted inspections of the so-called
"Presidential Sites." The inspectors reported that the sites appeared
to have been "sanitized" prior to their visits, and, as anticipated,
they discovered no materials related to Iraq's WMD programs during
these inspections.
In accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions, UNSCOM and the IAEA must
be allowed to continue to investigate all aspects of Iraq's prohibited
programs until they can verify that all relevant components have been
destroyed under international supervision, and that all remaining
capabilities have been eliminated. Without such verification, Iraq
could develop the ability to strike at any city in the region -- and
beyond the region -- with devastating biological, chemical, and
possibly even nuclear weapons.
Dual-Use Imports
Resolution 1051 established a joint UNSCOM/IAEA unit to monitor Iraq's
imports of allowed dual-use items. Iraq must notify the unit before it
imports specific items which can be used in both weapons of mass
destruction and civilian applications. Similarly, U.N. members must
provide timely notification of exports to Iraq of such dual-use items.
We continue to be concerned that Iraq's land borders are extremely
porous. Iraq continues substantial trade with its neighbors. There is
significant potential for evasion of sanctions by land routes, giving
additional weight to our position that UNSCOM must have full and
unconditional access to all locations, and be allowed to inspect and
monitor Iraqi compliance over time.
The U.N.'s "Oil-for-Food" Program
On February 20, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1153, which
raises from $2.0 billion to $5.2 billion the amount of oil Iraq is
authorized to sell every 180 days. Resolution 1153 provides that the
nutritional and health requirements of the Iraqi people are the top
priority. My Administration's support for Resolution 1153 is fully
consistent with long-standing U.S. policy. Since 1990, at the height
of the Gulf War, the United States has held that the international
community's dispute is with Iraq's leadership, not its people. The
Security Council proposed an "oil-for-food" program in 1991 (UNSCR
706/712), which Iraq rejected. A similar program (UNSCR 986) was
eventually accepted by Iraq in 1996. We supported the expansion of the
"oil-for-food" program under UNSCR 1153 because it will provide
additional humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, under strict
U.N. supervision, without benefiting the regime.
Since the beginning of the "oil-for-food" program, we have
consistently worked with the U.N. and other U.N. member states to find
ways to improve the program's effectiveness to better meet the
humanitarian needs of Iraq's civilian population. Iraq, however, has
frequently failed to provide the full cooperation necessary to ensure
that the program functions smoothly. For example, during calendar year
1997, the Government of Iraq refused to pump oil under UNSCR 986 for
more than three months, all the while blaming the U.N. and the United
States for disruptions in the flow of food and medicine which it had
caused. The Iraqi government, after much prodding by the U.N.
Secretary General's office, finally submitted a satisfactory
distribution plan to the U.N. as called for by UNSCR 1153.
Resolution 1153 calls for an independent assessment of Iraq's oil
infrastructure to determine whether it can export $5.2 billion in oil
in a 180-day period, as provided for in the resolution. This report,
which was submitted to the UNSC on April 15, recommended that the
Sanctions Committee approve up to $300 million worth of repairs to
Iraq's oil infrastructure during the period covered by UNSCR 1153. The
United States has expressed its intention to support those oil
infrastructure repairs needed to fund the expanded humanitarian
program, provided these repairs can be carried out in a manner fully
consistent with the humanitarian objectives of UNSCR 1153, and that
the U.N. is able to properly monitor all aspects of the repair
process. We are continuing to work with members of the Security
Council to resolve these concerns.
Resolution 1153 also maintains the separate program for northern Iraq,
administered directly by the U.N. in consultation with the local
population. This program receives 13 to 15 percent of the funds
generated under the "oil-for-food" program. The United States strongly
supports this provision. The separate northern program was established
because of the Baghdad regime's proven disregard for the humanitarian
condition of the Kurdish, Assyrian, and Turkomen minorities of
northern Iraq and its readiness to apply the most brutal forms of
repression against them. The well-documented series of chemical
weapons attacks a decade ago by the government against civilians in
the north is only one example of this brutality. In northern Iraq,
where Baghdad does not exercise control, the "oil-for-food" program
has been able to operate unhindered. The Kurdish factions are seeking
to set aside their differences to work together so that UNSCR 1153 is
implemented as efficiently as possible. As a result, the contrast
between the north and the rest of the country is striking.
The U.N. must carefully monitor implementation of Resolution 1153. The
Iraqi government continues to insist on the need for rapid lifting of
the sanctions regime, despite its clear record of noncompliance with
its obligations under relevant U.N. resolutions -- a record which was
unanimously acknowledged during the Security Council's 38th sanctions
review on April 27. We will continue to work with the U.N.
Secretariat, the Security Council, and others in the international
community to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people
are met while denying any political or economic benefits to the
Baghdad regime.
The Human Rights Situation in Iraq
The human rights situation throughout Iraq continues to be a cause for
grave concern. Summary, arbitrary, and extra-judicial executions
remain a primary concern. On March 10, U.N. Special Rapporteur for
Iraq, Max Van der Stoel, reported that his ongoing investigation had
revealed that "there is strong evidence that hundreds of prisoners
have been executed in Abu Gharaib and Radwaniyah prisons since August
1997." According to credible reports, many of those killed were
serving sentences of 15-20 years for such crimes as insulting the
regime or being members of an opposition political party. Families in
Iraq reportedly received the bodies of the executed which bore, in
some cases, clear signs of torture. In April, the U.N. Human Rights
Commission issued a strong condemnatory resolution describing these
and other ongoing Iraqi human rights violations. The resolution
extended the Special Rapporteur's mandate and condemned the
"all-pervasive repression and oppression" perpetrated by the
Government of Iraq.
In southern Iraq, the government continues to repress the Shi'a
population, destroying the Marsh Arabs' way of life and the unique
ecology of the southern marshes. In the north, outside the
Kurdish-controlled areas, the government continues the forced
expulsion of tens of thousands of ethnic Kurds and Turkomans from
Kirkuk and other cities. The government continues to stall and
obfuscate attempts to account for more than 600 Kuwaitis and
third-country nationals who disappeared at the hands of Iraqi
authorities during or after the occupation of Kuwait. In the course of
recent prisoner exchanges brokered by the ICRC, Iraq has released more
than 300 Iranian prisoners of war taken during the Iran-Iraq war in
exchange for 5,600 Iraqi POWs. Yet the Government of Iraq shows no
sign of complying with UNSCR 688, which demands that Iraq cease the
repression of its own people.
Northern Iraq:  PUK-KDP Relations
In northern Iraq, the cease-fire between the Kurdish parties,
established in November 1997 as the result of U.S. efforts, continues
to hold. Both Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP) and Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) have made positive, forward-looking statements on
political reconciliation, and talks between the two groups are now
entering their sixth round. We will continue our efforts to reach a
permanent reconciliation through mediation in order to help the people
of northern Iraq find the permanent, stable settlement which they
deserve, and to minimize the opportunities for Baghdad and Tehran to
insert themselves into the conflict and threaten Iraqi citizens in
this region. Baghdad continues to pressure the two groups to enter
into negotiations.
The United Nations Compensation Commission
The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), established
pursuant to UNSCRs 687 and 692, continues to resolve claims against
Iraq arising from Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
The UNCC has issued almost 1.3 million awards worth $6 billion. Thirty
percent of the proceeds from the oil sales permitted by UNSCRs 986,
1111, and 1143 have been allocated to the Compensation Fund to pay
awards and to finance operations of the UNCC. To the extent that money
is available in the Compensation Fund, initial payments to each
claimant are authorized for awards in the order in which the UNCC has
approved them, in installments of $2,500. To date, 757 U.S. claimants
have received an initial installment payment, and payment is still in
process for approximately another 58 U.S. claimants.
Conclusion
Iraq remains a serious threat to international peace and security. I
remain determined to see Iraq comply fully with all of its obligations
under UNSC resolutions. The United States looks forward to the day
when Iraq rejoins the family of nations as a responsible and
law-abiding member.
I appreciate the support of the Congress for our efforts and shall
continue to keep the Congress informed about this important issue.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
(end text)




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