If Iraq fulfills these tasks, and cooperates with weapons inspectors for 120 days after reinforced monitoring is fully operational, the Council could act to suspend sanctions temporarily, provided appropriate financial controls are in place, and bearing in mind the humanitarian purposes of the Council's decisions. The embargo on military imports would remain in place, and dual-use items would continue to require prior approval. If Iraqi cooperation ceased, sanctions would be re-imposed automatically. Renewal of the suspension would require a positive Council decision every 120 days. Containment has been strengthened by the adoption of the resolution.
Sanctions are the most critical element of containment.
As long as sanctions remain in place, it is essential that we address the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Not only is it right for the international community to do all it can to assist the Iraqi people who are the pawns of Saddam Hussein, but doing so minimizes the risk of sanctions erosion and alleviates international pressure to ease or lift the controls which keep Iraq's revenue out of the hands of Saddam Hussein. UN sanctions have never targeted the Iraqi people and have never limited the import of food and medicine for the Iraqi people. Iraqi per capita intake has risen from 1,300 calories before the program began to over 2,000 calories now provided by a UN ration basket which is augmented by locally grown produce. Food imports are now at about pre-war levels.