S/PV.3789 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following documents: S/1997/455 and S/1997/458, letters dated 9 and 11 June 1997, respectively, from the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission established by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security Council resolution 687 (1991) addressed to the President of the Security Council; S/1997/456, letter dated 13 June 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the text of a letter dated 5 June 1997 from the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq addressed to the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission established by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security Council resolution 687 (1991); and S/1997/457, letter dated 13 June 1997 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq addressed to the President of the Security Council, transmitting the text of a letter dated 6 June 1997 from the Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iraq addressed to the Deputy Executive Chairman of the Special Commission established by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security Council resolution 687 (1991). Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council takes note of the letters from the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission dated 9 and 11 June 1997 (S/1997/455 “The Security Council deplores these incidents and underlines that Iraq must immediately take effective steps to put an end to all such actions. The Council reminds Iraq of its obligations under the relevant resolutions of the Council, in particular resolution 1060 (1996). The Council affirms that Iraq is obliged to ensure the security of the personnel of the Special Commission and to permit the Commission to carry out its air operations anywhere in Iraq without interference of any kind in accordance with pertinent provisions of resolution 707 (1991). The Council recalls the commitments contained in the joint statement of the Special Commission and Iraq of 22 June 1996. “The Security Council reiterates its continuing support to the Special Commission in its efforts to ensure the implementation of its mandate under the relevant resolutions of the Council”. This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/33. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.