4.3 |
Iraq WMD assessments, October 2002 to March 2003
431.
In
subsequent informal consultations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock stated
that the
UK was sure
Iraq had WMD, but they could not be located because they had
been
hidden by
Iraq.
432.
The Council
meeting was followed by “a long session of informal
consultations”.159
433.
The points
made by Sir Jeremy Greenstock included:
•
There was
“no real evidence of non-compliance on the nuclear weapons
file”.
•
The “key
question” was whether Iraq had WMD: “The UK was sure they
did.
But the
WMD could not be located because Iraq had hidden them, and
they
would not
be found without unconditional and immediate Iraqi
co-operation.”
•
The US and
the UK “had invested time and money in finding out the
truth.
So we
knew that WMD were being moved every 12 hours; that mobile
weapons
facilities
existed; and that documents and materials were being moved
around.”
434.
Dr Blix was
reported to have stated:
•
Iraqi
co-operation “sometimes seemed grudging”, but “only if
UNMOVIC
found that
Iraq was concealing things could one say that there was a real
lack
of co‑operation”.
•
With the Al
Samoud missiles and UAVs, Iraq was “trying to push to
the
boundaries
of what was permissible”. On the former, Iraq had
arguably
“trespassed
over the border”; the resolution did not prohibit UAVs, but they
were
“on the
border of what was allowed”. UNMOVIC was “still
investigating”.
•
Iraq
“seemed to be trying to find ways of assisting UNMOVIC” on
mobile
BW facilities.
435.
Iraq
continued to refute US and UK statements about its
capabilities
and intent.
436.
Following a
meeting with Dr Blix late on 9 March, Sir Jeremy Greenstock
reported
that Dr
Blix had reminded him “that UNMOVIC still lacked clear evidence
that Iraq
possessed
any WMD at all”.160
437.
At the request
of Malaysia representing the NAM, the Security Council
held
an open
debate on the “situation between Iraq and Kuwait” on 11 and 12
March
159
Telegram
388 UKMIS New York to FCO London, 8 March 2003, ‘Iraq: 7 March
2003:
Informal Consultations’.
160
Telegram
391 UKMIS New York to FCO London, 10 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Second
Resolution’.
161
UN Security
Council, ‘4717th Meeting Tuesday 11 March 2003’
(S/PV.4717).
369