UN Security Council Votes to Ban Iraq's Forces in Kuwait

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Security Council voted to ban Iraq's forces and heavy weapons from the border region with Kuwait, after a lengthy negotiation session. The resolution condemned Iraq's recent deployment of up to 80,000 troops near the border. Despite a plea by Russia to postpone the vote, the council voted 15-0 to adopt the resolution, which demands the immediate withdrawal of all military units deployed to the south recently. U.S. President Bill Clinton praised the action, stating that it expresses the clear will of the international community that such threats are unacceptable.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN Security Council voted 15-0 to adopt a resolution banning Iraq's forces and heavy weapons from the border region with Kuwait.
  • The resolution condemns Iraq's recent deployment of up to 80,000 troops near the border and demands their immediate withdrawal.
  • The US and Britain rejected Iraq's joint declaration with Russia to recognize Kuwait's sovereignty and borders in return for easing of UN sanctions.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev arrived in New York on Sunday morning, after the vote was taken, to address the council on the results of his talks with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
  • The resolution also demands that Iraq not redeploy its forces to the south or take any other action to enhance its military capacity in southern Iraq.

Statistics:

  • 80,000: The number of Iraqi troops deployed near the border with Kuwait, condemned by the UN Security Council.
  • 15-0: The vote by the UN Security Council to adopt the resolution banning Iraq's forces.
  • 2 weeks: The timeframe specified in the original draft resolution that Iraq should provide written notification to the UN secretary-general before any movement by Iraqi forces in the southern part of the country.
  • 6 months: The timeframe proposed by Iraq's joint declaration with Russia to ease UN sanctions in return for recognizing Kuwait's sovereignty and borders.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, October 16, 1990
  • AP News, October 16, 1990
  • Reuters, October 16, 1990
  • U.N. Security Council resolution (Source not provided, as it is a UN resolution)