S/PV.3832 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/1997/888, letter dated 13 November 1997 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council; and S/1997/883, letter dated 13 November 1997 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. 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 condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable decision of the Government of Iraq in expelling personnel of the Special Commission of a specified nationality and thereby imposing conditions on the Special Commission in contravention of relevant Security Council resolutions which constitute the governing standard of Iraqi compliance. “The Security Council demands the immediate and unequivocal revocation of this action, which has “The Security Council expresses its support for the Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and stresses the importance of their ensuring the implementation of all aspects of their mandates, including their vital work in monitoring and verification in Iraq, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Council. “The Security Council stresses that the Government of Iraq has full responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of the personnel and equipment of the Special Commission and the IAEA and their inspection teams.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/1997/51. 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.