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[House Document 106-304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-304

 
STATUS OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS REGARDING IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH UNSC 
                              RESOLUTIONS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF EFFORTS TO OBTAIN IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE 
  RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL, PURSUANT TO 50 
  U.S.C. 1541

October 24, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
89-011                     WASHINGTON : 2000

                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, October 18, 2000.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Consistent with the Authorization for Use 
of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1 as 
amended by Public Law 106-113) 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. My last report, 
consistent with Public Law 102-1, was dated July 17, 2000. I 
shall continue to keep the Congress informed about this 
important issue.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
     Status of U.S. Efforts Regarding Iraq's Compliance With UNSC 
                              Resolutions

                                overview

    As long as Saddam Hussein remains in power, he will 
continue to threaten the well-being of the Iraqi people, the 
peace of the region, and vital U.S. interests. We will continue 
to contain these threats, but over the long term the best way 
to end them is through a new government in Baghdad. To this 
end, we support the Iraqi Opposition as part of our program to 
support a transition to democracy in Iraq. The Opposition has 
made good strides in the past year in reestablishing its 
presence, developing its plans, beginning administrative and 
some program operations using United States Government funding, 
and beginning training under the Iraq Liberation Act (ILA).
    Another aspect of our efforts to bring about a new 
government in Baghdad is our support for the creation of an 
international tribunal to address the crimes against humanity 
committed by the current Iraqi leadership. Saddam Hussein and 
his most senior henchmen should be held accountable for their 
three decades of misrule. Their glaring abuse of human rights 
in Iraq, and in those countries subjected to Iraqi aggression, 
underscore the fact that the current Iraqi regime will never 
live at peace with its people or its neighbors.
    Iraq continues to reject United Nation Security Council 
Resolution 1284, a binding Resolution adopted under Chapter VII 
of the U.N. Charter, including its requirement that Iraq 
provide the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection 
Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA) with immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted access. 
Nonetheless, the U.N. continues to implement those parts of the 
Resolution that do not require Iraqi cooperation. In its 
quarterly report to the Council on August 28, UNMOVIC signaled 
it is ready to begin preparatory work in Iraq. We consult with 
Dr. Blix and his staff regularly to provide the best support 
possible.
    Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary General's high-
level coordinator for Kuwait Issues, presented his first report 
to the council on Kuwaiti and third-country national prisoners 
on April 23; and on June 14, he submitted his first report on 
stolen Kuwaiti property. Both of these reports demonstrate 
Iraq's continuing failure to cooperate fully with its 
obligations to the international community. The Iraqi 
Government continues to deny Ambassador Vorontsov entry to the 
country.
    The oil-for-food program, which is designed to provide for 
the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people as long as U.N. 
sanctions remain in place, continues to expand. During the 
seventh six-month phase of the program, which ended on June 8, 
Iraq exported more than $8.4 billion worth of oil. On June 8, 
the Council extended the program for an additional six months.
U.S. and Coalition Force Levels in the Gulf Region
    Saddam Hussein's record of aggressive behavior necessitates 
the deployment of a highly capable force in the region in order 
to deter Iraq and respond to any threat it might pose to its 
neighbors, the reconstitution of its WMD program, or movement 
against the Kurds in northern Iraq. We will continue to 
maintain a strong posture and have established a rapid 
reinforcement capability to supplement our forces in the Gulf, 
if needed.
Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch
    Aircraft of the United States and coalition partners 
patrolling the No-fly Zones over Iraq under Operations Northern 
Watch and Southern Watch are still routinely tracked by Iraqi 
radar, are regularly engaged by anti-aircraft artillery, and on 
occasion, are attacked by surface-to-air missiles. Our aircrews 
continue to respond in self-defense to threats against and 
attacks on our aircraft patrolling the No-Fly Zones.
The Maritime Interception Force
    The maritime Multinational Interception Force (MIF) 
continues to enforce U.N. sanctions in the Gulf. The United 
States continues to approach potential participants in the MIF 
to augment current partners, and expects Poland to join later 
this year.
    Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
continue to support the MIF and accept vessels diverted for 
violating U.N. sanctions against Iraq. After a near record 
level in June and a still high level in July, the smuggling of 
petroleum products through the Gulf has been significantly 
reduced in August and September, principally because Iran is 
now generally denying smugglers access to their territorial 
waters. There is no indication that this state of affairs will 
be permanent.
    The MIF, and our ability to rapidly augment it, will 
continue to serve as a critical deterrent to both the smuggling 
of petroleum products out of Iraq and the smuggling of 
prohibited items into Iraq.

UNMOVIC/IAEA: Weapons of Mass Destruction

    There have been no inspections in Iraq since December 15, 
1998. Iraq's defiance of the international consensus as 
expressed by Resolution 1284 has meant that no progress has 
been made in addressing Iraq's outstanding disarmament 
obligations. Iraq remains in violation of its obligations to 
end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and 
long-range missiles.
    UNMOVIC has now nearly completed the hiring of its core 
staff in New York and is continuing to hire people in an on-
call or ``roster'' category, including Americans. UNMOVIC 
completed its first training course on August 10. The United 
States supported this training by providing UNMOVIC with course 
instructors and facilities for hands-on training. We consult 
with Dr. Blix and his staff regularly to provide the best 
support possible. On August 28, UNMOVIC stated it is ready to 
begin preparatory work in Iraq in its quarterly report to the 
Council.

Dual-Use Imports

    Although the ``oil-for-food'' program revenues are 
designated for humanitarian purposes only, we remain concerned 
that Iraq is using this program in an attempt to acquire goods 
and materials for its weapons programs. The United States, as a 
member of the U.N. Iraq Sanctions Committee, reviews all 
contracts under the ``oil-for-food'' program to ensure that 
items that are explicitly prohibited or pose significant dual-
use concerns are not allowed to be imported.
    Resolution 1051 established a joint UNSCOM/IAEA unit to 
monitor Iraq's imports of allowed dual-use WMD items (known as 
``1051''--listed goods). Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 
1284, UNMOVIC has assumed this responsibility from UNSCOM. 
Since weapons inspectors left Iraq in December 1998, the U.N. 
Office of the Iraq Programme is the only organization allowed 
to observe goods going into Iraq under the ``oil-for-food'' 
program. In the absence of weapons inspectors and other experts 
on the ground in Iraq, the United States has placed holds on a 
number of 1051 and dual-use contracts that otherwise might have 
been approved with UNMOVIC/IAEA monitoring.

The UN's ``Oil-for-Food'' Program

    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. In Resolution 
1284, the U.N. Security Council authorized Iraq to export as 
much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs of the Iraqi 
population. Under U.N. control, the proceeds are used to 
purchase humanitarian goods, fund awards against Iraq arising 
out of its invasion and occupation of Kuwait, and to meet U.N. 
administrative costs. According to U.N. data, since the start 
of the ``oil-for-food'' program, 10,863 contracts for 
humanitarian goods worth nearly $13 billion have been approved 
through July 31. Recently, we cleared a large number of holds 
on these contracts in order to better help the Iraqi people. We 
view Resolution 1284 as a vehicle for significant improvement 
of the humanitarian situation in Iraq and are eager to see all 
aspects of it implemented as rapidly as possible.
    The ``oil-for-food'' program maintains a separate program 
for northern Iraq, administered directly by the U.N. in 
consultation with the local authorities. This program, which 
the United States strongly supports, ensures that when Iraq 
contracts for the purchase of humanitarian goods, 13 percent of 
the funds generated under the ``oil-for-food'' program are 
spent on items for northern Iraq.
    International humanitarian programs including, most 
importantly, the ``oil-for-food'' program, have steadily 
improved the life of the average Iraqi and led to improvements 
in health care, water, sanitation, agriculture, education, and 
other areas, while denying Saddam Hussein control over Iraq's 
oil revenues.
    We will continue to work with the U.N. Secretariat, other 
members of the Security Council, and others in the 
international community to ensure that the implementation of 
Resolution 1284 better enables the humanitarian needs of the 
Iraqi people to be met while denying political or economic 
benefits to the Baghdad regime.

Norther Iraq: Kurdish Reconciliation

    The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic 
Union of Kurdistan (PUK) continue their efforts to implement 
the September 17, 1998 reconciliation agreement.
    Vice President Gore met with leaders of both Kurdish 
parties in the Iraqi National Congress delegation on June 26, 
2000. Immediately thereafter, the Department of the State 
hosted negotiations with those leaders. The parties 
successfully narrowed their differences on a number of key 
issues, though a small number remained unresolved. The parties 
remain engaged with one another and have reiterated their 
commitment to address their issues peacefully through continued 
negotiation. They work together effectively in a number of 
areas, including joint efforts to bring the needs of their 
region to the attention of the U.N. and the international 
community, and within the larger Iraqi national democratic 
opposition movement. The situation in northern Iraq remains 
tense, however, and we continue to look for ways to encourage 
the parties to make greater progress toward resolving their 
differences.

The Human Rights Situation in Iraq

    As reflected in the Department of State's International 
Religious Freedom Report for Iraq, released September 9, the 
human rights situation in Iraq generally, and the tolerance for 
free religious expression specifically, continue to fall far 
short of international norms. UNSCR 688 expressly notes that 
the consequences of the regime's repression of its own people 
constitute a threat to international peace and security in the 
humanitarian aid organizations to all Iraqis in need in all 
parts of Iraq. Yet, for over nine years, the Iraqi Government 
has refused to allow the U.N. Human Rights Commission's Special 
Rapporteur for Iraq to visit the country. U.N. human rights 
monitors have never been allowed in. Newly appointed Special 
Rapporteur Andreas Mavrommatis asked the Government of Iraq for 
access so that he might make a personal inspection; the Iraqi 
Government has refused his request.
    Human rights NGOs and other interested voices continue to 
call for creation of an international tribunal to address the 
war crimes and crimes against humanity of the Iraqi leadership. 
United States Government policy supports this view: the 
leadership of the Iraqi regime should be indicted and 
prosecuted by an international criminal tribunal or by a 
national court that can properly exercise jurisdiction over 
them.
    The Iraqi leadership's abuse of resources for personal 
enrichment and attempts to manipulate the oil-for-food program 
continued unabated. Due to higher world oil prices, Iraq has 
more revenue available to it to address the humanitarian needs 
of its people via the ``oil-for-food'' program. The Iraqi 
leadership's command of illicit revenue has also risen sharply 
for the same reason. Nonetheless, the government fails to use 
such resources for the most benefit to the people of Iraq.
    In the north, outside the Kurdish-controlled areas, we 
continue to receive reports of the regime forcibly expelling 
ethnic Kurds and Turkomans from Kirkuk and other cities, and 
transferring Arabs into their places. There have also been 
reports of Shia in certain sections of Baghdad being relocated.

The Iraqi Opposition

    We are continuing our support for the Iraqi Opposition, 
helping Iraqis inside and outside Iraq to become a more 
effective voice for the aspirations of the people, and working 
to build support for the forces of change inside the country. 
They are working toward the day when Iraq has a government 
worthy of its people--a government prepared to live in peace 
with its people and its neighbors.
    We signed our first grant agreement with the Iraqi National 
Congress (INC) in late March and deposited the first direct 
funding into their account in April. This grant provided them 
the resources necessary to open and run their headquarters, 
hold a Central Committee meeting, undertake outreach programs 
to further develop their organization, deploy teams to advocate 
the interests of the Iraqi people at international fora, and 
manage assistance provided under the Iraq Liberation Act (ILA). 
We are currently negotiating a follow-on agreement for up to $4 
million to expand their capacities and allow them to run a 
public information campaign, administer ILA training, and 
deliver humanitarian assistance to Iraqis, among other 
programs.

The United Nations Compensation Commission

    The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), was 
established and operates pursuant to UNSCRs 687 (1991) and 692 
(1991). It continues to process claims and pay compensation for 
losses and damages suffered by individuals, corporations, 
governments, and international organizations, as a direct 
result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait. To 
date, the UNCC has issued approximately 1.5 million awards 
worth about $15.5 billion. Of these, the United States 
Government has received approximately $66.1 million from the 
UNCC for payment to U.S. claimants. Awards and the costs of the 
UNCC's operation are paid for from the Compensation Fund which 
is funded through the allocation to it of thirty percent of the 
proceeds from authorized oil sales under Security Council 
Resolutions 986 (1995) and subsequent extensions.
    In its September 26-28 session, the UNCC approved an award 
of $16 billion to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation for damages 
suffered during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, along with a number 
of other awards. (These rewards are not reflected in the $15.5 
billion figure above.) In these sessions, the UNCC also decided 
to temporarily reduce the percentage of Iraqi oil exports set 
aside to UNCC claims from 30 percent to 25 percent for the next 
six-month phase of the oil-for-food program. The additional 
revenues freed up by this move will go to fund specific 
programs intended to meet pressing humanitarian needs.

                               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 while at the same 
time endeavoring to see that the humanitarian needs of the 
Iraqi population are addressed. The United States will continue 
to encourage and support those Iraqis working for the day when 
Iraq rejoins the family of nations as a responsible and law-
abiding member under a new government that serves its people 
rather than represses them.

                                  
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