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United Nations

Intense Lobbying Continues in UN Security Council Over Iraqi Sanctions Resolution

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the vote on the Anglo-Dutch draft resolution concerning Iraq looms, intense lobbying has intensified in the United Nations Security Council. The proposed resolution aims to determine the composition of a new arms monitoring commission for Iraq and the conditions under which the sanctions against Iraq would be lifted. Despite the repeated delays, the negotiations over the precise language of the draft remain a major hurdle. The United States and Britain seek support from Russia, China, and France for the resolution in its current version, which links the lifting of sanctions with the reintroduction of a weapons inspections commission. However, Iraq has consistently rejected such a linkage.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a modified version of the Anglo-Dutch draft resolution concerning Iraq, which will determine the composition of a new arms monitoring commission and the conditions for lifting sanctions.
  • The United States and Britain want Russia, China, and France to support the resolution in its current version, which links the lifting of sanctions with the reintroduction of a weapons inspections commission.
  • Iraq has repeatedly asserted that it will not accept such a linkage, fearing it will be trapped in a never-ending cycle of sanctions.
  • The proposed resolution would establish a new inspection agency, UNMOVIC, in place of the defunct UNSCOM, and sanctions could be suspended if Iraq complies with UNMOVIC within a year.
  • Russia has proposed amendments to the resolution to prevent the United States and Britain from imposing arms requirements that Iraq cannot meet, effectively keeping sanctions in place indefinitely.
  • Some Arab diplomats question the sincerity of the United States in implementing an effective monitoring operation, with concerns that the resolution may be used as a pretext for further military action.

Statistics:

  • The new inspection agency, UNMOVIC, is expected to take about one year to establish.
  • If Iraq complies with UNMOVIC requirements, sanctions could be suspended within one year.
  • The current draft of the resolution has been repeatedly expected and delayed over the last week.
  • Iraq has consistently rejected the linkage of sanctions lifting with the reintroduction of a weapons inspections commission.

Sources:

  • Barbara Crossette, "The New York Times", December 14, 1999
  • Abdelwahhab Badrakhan, "Al-Hayat", December 13, 1999, as reported in the "Mideast Mirror"

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