S/PV.3817 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. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 3 of resolution 1111 (1997), document S/l 9971685, and the letter dated 8 September 1997 from the Chairman of the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait addressed to the President of the Security Council, document Sf 19971692. Members of the Council also have before them document S/1997/709, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to document S/1997/690, which contains the text of the letter dated 4 September 1997 from the Charge d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a letter dated 4 September 1997 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq addressed to the Secretary-General. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to vote on the draft resolution (S/1997/709) before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided. Sir John Weston (United Kingdom): I shall be very brief. The United Kingdom regrets that the decision of the Government of Iraq not to export oil under Security Council resolution 1111 (1997) until 13 August this year has resulted in Iraq’s being unable to take advantage of the full quota provided for in the first go-day period under Security Council resolution 1111 (1997). Unless the Council was prepared to amend the provisions of Security Council resolution 1111 (1997), this would mean less revenue for the purchase of humanitarian supplies for the Iraqi people. Through no fault of their own, the Iraqi people would be denied the full allowance of humanitarian supplies. Let me be quite clear. The United Kingdom is determined to ensure that the Iraqi people receive the maximum benefit from Security Council resolution 111 I (1997). That is why the United Kingdom has taken the initiative in putting forward and co-sponsoring this draft resolution. It enables Iraq to make up the shortfall in oil. sales ‘and thus to ensure that the full amount of revenue is made available for the purchase of humanitarian supplies for the benefit of the Iraqi people. ‘The United Kingdom hopes that from now on the Government of Iraq will assume its full responsibilities under resolution 986 (199S), resolution I1 11 (1997) and all other relevant resolutions of the Security Council. Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): The Egyptian delegation made it clear from the beginning that the shortfall in Iraqi oil exports is a technical issue to be dealt with by a procedural, technical resolution that would callow Iraq to complete the export of the target amount of oil up to a value of $1 billion in the 90 days following the implementatiou of Security Council resolution 1111 (1997) in order to meet the humanit‘arian needs of the Iraqi people. We believe that the two provisions related to oil exports and the implementation of the contracts for humanitarian requirements must go side by side within the same time-frame. I will not hide the fact that the Egyptian delegation would have preferred consultations to have continued until consensus had been reached on the draft. We welcome the paragraph added this morning to the draft resolution in which the Security Council acknowledges the situation concerning humanitarian supplies to Iraq and encourages the continuing efforts to The Egyptian delegation agrees with the general thrust of the draft resolution, which seeks a rapid settlement of the issue of the shortfall in Iraqi oil exports in order to avoid any obstacles that could delay or cut off the provision of humanitarian supplies to the Iraqi people. In view of this, and of the fears expressed by the Secretary-General in his latest report regarding the possible adverse effects on the Iraqi people of any delay in the provision of humanitarian goods, my delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution. Mr. Qin Huasun (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese delegation has noted that it has not been possible to reach the quota for the sale of oil in the 90 days after the entry into force of Security Council resolution 1.1 I1 (1997) as scheduled. We believe that this is a totally technical issue that should not be politicized. The Chinese delegation wishes to emphasize here that the fundamental aim of the implementation of Security Council resolutions 986 (1995) and 1111 (1997) is to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Although Iraq has exported oil, the delivery of humanitarian goods has been delayed, which is not in keeping with the spirit of the resolution. In his report submitted 90 days after the resolution was adopted, the Secretary-General points out that the delay in the delivery of humanitarian goods has had a negative impact on the people of Iraq. We are deeply concerned about this issue, and we strongly urge all sides concerned to accelerate the delivery process so that humanitarian goods can be delivered to Iraq at an early date. For the smooth implementation of the resolution on oil for food in order to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Iraq, the Chinese delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution before us. Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The Security Council has before it a draft resolution that deals with a number of issues relating to the implementation of Security Council resolutions 986 (1995) and 1111 (1997). The main reason for the appearance of this draft is the delay in the provision of oil under the quota set for the first quarter, and this has given rise to legitimate concern among members of the Council. The essence of our approach is well known. The oil export problem cannot be considered in isolation from the delivery of humanitarian goods, and in fact this is the major goal of resolutions 986 (199.5) and I1 11 (1997). We find it unacceptable that there is a growing gap between deliveries of Iraqi oil and the provision of humanitarian supplies to Iraq under resolutions 986 (1995) and 1111 (1997). The situation has in fact become very serious. By the end of August, the medicine and other medical supplies being delivered to Iraq amounted only to 9.5 per cent of the target amount. In the areas of agricultural products, water supplies, electrical energy and education, when the Secretary-General’s report was submitted, no supplies at all had reached the country. All of this is causing a worsening deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Iraq. We are concerned that for some months the sanctions Committee has seen a trend of blocking medical supplies and food contracts to meet very urgent needs. This is being done on the basis of pretexts that have nothing to do with the existing procedure in the sLanctions Committee. For example, any requests for supplies to Iraq Sometimes, in spite of the procedure already agreed upon, the relevant delegations are blocking such requests without even giving any reasons. The Russian delegation has always vigorously objected to such a practice, and today we call upon all our partners in the Security Council to strictly abide by the agreed procedure so that finally we might be able to have a stable humanitarian resolution. We have tried to balance all this so that the situation regarding the implementation of resolutions 986 (1995) and 1111 (1997) could be reflected accurately and comprehensively in today’s draft resolution. But the sponsors did not accept our efforts. We were prepared for the draft resolution to be strictly technical. If the sponsors wish to include explanations of the causes of the current humanitarian crisis, however, their explanations should be objective, not one-sided; they should include an honest observation of the facts regarding how things stand in the Committee established by resolution 661 (1990). OUT delegation is also somewhat disappointed that the draft text was submitted for a vote rather hastily. We decided not to vote against this draft resolution so as not to create additional obstacles to speeding up oil exports for the purpose of establishing a financial base for the purchase of humanitarian goods. Nonetheless, while noting that both sides bear responsibility for the ongoing situation, we believe that it is exceedingly important to remedy the situation in the Committee on sanctions as regards the delivery of humanitarian goods to Iraq. Unfortunately - although resolutions 986 (1995) and 1111 (1997) were adopted to provide humanitarian supplies to the Iraqi population - this most important aspect has not been taken into account in the draft resolution. I repeat, this aspect is not reflected in the draft resolution, and for this reason we shall abstain in the voting.

I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/1997/709. A vote was taken by show of hands. Chile, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Guinea- Bissau, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Sweden, TJnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Against: None Abstaining: Russian Federation

There were 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention, The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1129 (1997). I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as representative of the United States. The Council today acted to reorganize the two distinct periods of time specified in Security Council resolution 1111 (1997) during which Iraq is permitted to sell up to $2 billion worth of petroleum, while keeping the 180-day time-frame of resolution 1111 (1997) intact. This will permit Iraq to export the full $2 billion permitted by resolution 1111 (1997) within the specified time-frame in order to purchase the full amount of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. What the Council has done today is a one-time exception intended solely to prevent unnecessary suffering among the people of Iraq. The time limits for the sale of Iraqi petroleum under any successor resolutions to 986 (1995) and 111 I (1997) will be strictly adhered to. The resolution is also specific on this point. Our action is the right and responsible thing to do. We acted out of overriding humanitarian concern for the welfare of the Iraqi people, who would have paid the price for the inexcusable delays in delivery of humanitarian goods that would have resulted from Baghdad’s refusal to sell oil until the first 90-day period of resolution 1111 (1997) had almost expired. Let me stress that the Baghdad regime’s decision to delay oil sales was not required by any of the relevant Security Council resolutions or by the memorandum of understanding with the United Nations, a point that was Instead - and not for the first time - the Government of Iraq has defied the clear conditions of a United Nations resolution and made a callous decision to put at risk the well-being of its people in order to seek to score propaganda points. We regret that one delegation cannot support this resolution. We and our co-sponsors have worked tirelessly to achieve a consensus text, but we simply cannot accept the notion of introducing language into this resolution that seeks to blame the United Nations for actions solely the fault of the Government of Iraq. It was the Government of Iraq that submitted hundreds of flawed, incomplete and inaccurate contract applications to the sanctions secretariat and the Committee, thus bogging it down in a deluge of dubious documents. Many contract requests were for items that were not even on Iraq’s own distribution list. And it was the sanctions secretariat and the Committee that diligently worked to approve these applications, and that have just as diligently continued to streamline its procedures, so that today almost 99 percent of the money set aside for humanitarian purchases has been allocated to approved contracts. Contrast this spirit of cooperation here in New York with the arrogant attitude of denial in Baghdad and you should understand better my Government’s determination to keep ambiguous language on the sanctions Committee out of this resolution. The Government of Iraq bears sole responsibility for the situation that necessitated this resolution today, and the Council has recognized this. The Iraqi Government, by The resolution specifically emphasizes its snpport for the Iraqi people when it endorses the responsibility of the Secretary-General to monitor the actions of the Government of Iraq with respect to the needs of vulnerable groups. It lays the groundwork for a more efficient procmement of emergency humanitarian supplies by stressing that contracts for the purchase of goods under resolution 1 I1 1 (1997) must be for items that appear on the approved distribution plan. The Government of Iraq should know that, in implementing resolution 1111 (1997), the Security Council intends to remain vigilant in safeguarding the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, We will act on their behalf even if, unfortunately, their own Government deliberately will not. This is why we co-sponsored this resolution and why we voted in favour of it: to let the people of Iraq know that we stand behind them, and that we will protect them as best we can from the cynical and callous actions of their own Government and leaders. I resume my functions as President of the Council. The Security Council has thus conciuded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. The meeting rose at 3.50 pm.