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United Nations

Arab League Calls for End to UN Sanctions on Iraq to Restore Peace in the Middle East

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 50th anniversary of the 22-state Arab League was marked with a London conference, where Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel-Meguid emphasized the need for an end to the UN sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990. Abdel-Meguid argued that the sanctions have created unstable conditions in Iraq, leading to consequences such as Turkey's invasion of northern Iraq. He appealed to Western leaders to ease the sanctions, citing Iraqi commitments to comply with UN resolutions. However, the Arab League's case for easing sanctions has been met with skepticism due to the imprisonment of two US citizens by Iraqi forces.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Arab League has called for an end to the UN sanctions on Iraq, imposed in 1990, to restore peace in the Middle East.
  • Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel-Meguid has pressed Western leaders to ease the sanctions, citing Iraqi commitments to comply with UN resolutions.
  • The sanctions have created unstable conditions in Iraq, leading to consequences such as Turkey's invasion of northern Iraq.
  • Turkey's March 20 invasion of northern Iraq in hot pursuit of Turkish Kurd terrorists was condemned by the Arab League, which called for Ankara's troops to withdraw from Iraq.
  • The imprisonment of two US citizens, William Barloon and David Daliberti, by Iraqi forces has complicated the Arab League's case for easing sanctions.
  • Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been accused of attempting to extract concessions from the US over the release of the two US citizens.
  • Iraq has complained to the UN Security Council that Turkey has violated its sovereignty 56 times since 1991, including the current Turkish military operation.

Statistics:

  • 50: The number of years since the establishment of the Arab League.
  • 22: The number of states that make up the Arab League.
  • 1990: The year the UN imposed sanctions on Iraq for its invasion of Kuwait.
  • 1991: The year the US-led allied force ended Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
  • 56: The number of times Turkey has violated Iraq's sovereignty since 1991, according to Iraqi claims.

Sources:

  • LONDON, April 5 United Nations sanctions imposed against Iraq for its 1990 invasion of Kuwait must end to restore peace in the Middle East, Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel-Meguid said Wednesday.
  • A United States-led allied force ended Iraqi occupation of the Gulf emirate in 1991 but U.N. sanctions against Iraq have been renewed regularly at 90-day intervals.
  • Conference delegates said the Arab League's case for easing Iraq sanctions appeared to have suffered a setback amid U.S. anger over the imprisonment by Baghdad of two U.S. citizens, William Barloon and David Daliberti.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said April 2 the two men had made an innocent mistake and did not deserve the prison sentences.

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