07 September 2001
Security Council Questions Iraqi Expulsion of U.N. Staff
(U.N. wants proof of wrongdoing before withdrawing workers) (810) By Judy Aita Washington File Staff Writer United Nations -- The Security Council September 6 criticized Iraq for declaring five U.N. humanitarian program workers persona non grata and asked Baghdad to explain its actions. On September 3, Iraq informed the U.N. that five employees of the oil-for-food program would have to leave the country within 72 hours. U.N. officials said Iraq had no right to unilaterally order the expulsions. The U.N. workers -- four Nigerians and a Bosnian -- went to Amman, Jordan September 4 for safety reasons. The Security Council met privately with Benon Sevan, executive director of the oil-for-food program, to discuss the details of the situation. Council President Ambassador Jean-David Levitte of France said after the meeting that he was calling in the Iraqi envoy to ask for an explanation. Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Levitte said, "members of the Security Council support the decision taken by the executive director of the Office of the Iraq Program to withdraw these personnel for strictly safety reasons." "Members of the Security Council concur with the legal points forwarded by the executive director and urge Iraq to give further explanations regarding this decision," the president said. "Members of the Security Council take this opportunity to reaffirm their full support for the Office of the Iraq Program and, in particular, for their personnel on the ground who carry out their task under difficult conditions," Levitte said. Sevan said that according to U.N. conventions and agreements, Secretary General Kofi Annan must receive all details and evidence supporting the charges against the staff members in order for him to determine whether or not the staff should be withdrawn. "We regret very much that even as of today, we still have not received any detail or supporting evidence to the charges leveled against the five staff members concerned," Sevan said. "In the discussions held with the ministry of foreign affairs, a senior Iraqi official reiterated that the action taken by the government was 'legitimate' and, he continued: 'We insist upon it and you will bear full responsibility of not letting' the staff member leave Iraq within the 72 hours time limit given by the government," the executive director said. "He went on to say: 'I warn you again' that this is 'something related to our national security, and you will bear full responsibility if it is not done,'" Sevan said. Sevan said that he made the difficult decision to withdraw the staff "purely out of concern for the personal safety and security of the staff members concerned and without prejudice to the relevant provisions" of the U.N. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. The executive director stressed that "all staff members working in Iraq are under strict instructions to carry out all the tasks entrusted to them in full compliance with the mandate of the humanitarian program" and the agreement between the U.N. and Iraq signed in 1995. "All staff members are also under strict instructions to observe fully local rules and regulations as well as respect fully Iraqi national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Sevan said. He noted that "on several occasions" in the past he reiterated to Iraqi officials that if they believed U.N. staff were acting outside their responsibilities or against the U.N. agreement Iraq should give the secretary general details of the offensive activities in order for the U.N. to take appropriate action. A few years ago, Sevan said, when U.N. staff were not living in hotels designated by the Iraqi government, the U.N. withdrew the staff members. On August 30, 2001 the U.N. withdrew a contract worker who had taken some photographs in an Iraqi-designated sensitive area. "It is not a question of challenging the right of Iraq as a sovereign member state to take a decision," Sevan said. "However...if you charge someone with an unbecoming behavior (or) non-conformity with any of the mandates given to the program, it is only fair you provide the secretary general with the necessary information, details of the charges made. We assume they are innocent until they are proven to be guilty." When information was provided in other cases, he said, "I was the first one to put out people. However, I am not prepared to accept arguments that something is going on unless proof is provided." Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri accused the five of spying. Aldouri said that Iraq is not prepared to turn their files over the U.N. "These are questions related to security issues. Certainly we are not obliged to open this file to everybody," he said. "United States, maybe, is behind these people," the ambassador said. "They are (spying) and we have all evidence and we will prove that soon, I hope." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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