1.1 | UK
Iraq strategy 1990 to 2000
began to
provide humanitarian relief to the Kurds and to help them return to
northern
Iraq. The
creation of a No-Fly Zone (NFZ) followed.
36.
Iraq did not
accept the provisions of resolution 688. A Memorandum
of
Understanding
(MOU) between the Government of Iraq and the UN, signed on
18 April,
permitted
only a limited UN presence to provide humanitarian assistance and
relief
for the
“return and normalisation” of the lives of “displaced persons” in
their place of
origin,
“without prejudice to the sovereignty, territorial integrity,
political independence,
security
and non-interference in the internal affairs” of
Iraq.5
The MOU was
to apply until
December
1991.
37.
Iraq was
widely regarded as a disruptive force within the region. In his
time in
power,
Saddam Hussein had attacked Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Kuwait.
Despite the
sanctions
imposed by resolution 687 and the severe damage inflicted on Iraq’s
armed
forces, the
regime continued to be seen as hostile and potentially threatening
by Kuwait
and some of
Iraq’s other neighbours.
38.
The boundary
with Kuwait was demarcated by a UN Commission, and
resolution 833
(1993)
affirmed that its decisions were final. On 15 October 1994,
following Iraqi
military
deployments towards Kuwait, resolution 949 (1994) noted past Iraqi
threats
and
instances of actual use of force against its neighbours; warned
that any hostile or
provocative
action against its neighbours constituted a threat to peace and
security
in the
region; and underlined that the Security Council would “consider
Iraq fully
responsible
for the serious consequences of any failure to fulfil the demands”
in the
resolution,
including that Iraq withdraw its forces and not take any other
action to
enhance its
military capacity in southern Iraq.6
Iraq
accepted the UN demarcation of the
border in a
letter of 27 November 19947
but Iraq’s
claim to the territory of Kuwait was
39.
The US and UK
did not resume diplomatic relations with Iraq. Of the
other
Permanent
Members of the Security Council, Russia and China maintained
an
Embassy in
Baghdad, and France maintained a liaison office. Russia
represented
5
Memorandum
of Understanding signed by the Iraq Minister of Foreign Affairs and
the Secretary-
General’s
Executive Delegate, His Excellency Sadruddin Aga Khan,
18 April 1991.
6
UN Security
Council resolution 833 (1993).
7
Paper FCO
Research Analysts, November 2009, ‘UN Security Council Resolutions
on Iraq, 1990-2001’.
8
Minutes,
Defence Committee (House of Commons), 19 April 2000, [Evidence
Session], Qs 20-39.
9
The UK did
not maintain a British Interests Section staffed by UK diplomats
within the Russian Embassy.
31