1.1 | UK
Iraq strategy 1990 to 2000
suspend
co-operation” prevented the IAEA and UNSCOM from carrying out the
full
range of
its mandated activities and the “significantly reduced level of
assurance”.225
559.
The initial
reaction of the members of the Security Council was that
Iraq’s
announcement
was “totally unacceptable” and that it contravened the MOU
signed
on 23 February.
They also noted “with regret that the announcement was made
after
a period
of improved co-operation and achievement of some tangible
results”.
560.
Members of the
Council expressed their support for the IAEA and
UNSCOM,
and “for
the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special
Envoy”. They
emphasised
the “need for an early resumption of dialogue” and that they would
“be
ready to
respond favourably to future progress made in the disarmament
process”.
561.
In a letter to
Mr Aziz of 19 August, Mr Butler proposed that Iraq
and UNSCOM
should
resume the full range of activities and that Iraq should confirm it
would
co-operate.226
There was
no formal response.
562.
Following
discussions in the Council on 1 September, Mr Butler
provided briefing
notes
on:
•
the
discovery of VX degradation products and degradation products of
VX
stabilisers
on warhead remnants;
•
the
material balance of special munitions; and
•
“a change
in the accounting of the weaponization of biological warfare
agents”.
563.
On
3 September, Mr Butler briefed members of the Security
Council on the current
position,
including three instances when Iraq blocked UNSCOM’s
monitoring.
564.
On
9 September, the Security Council unanimously adopted
resolution 1194
(1998),
which:
•
reiterated
the points in the Presidential Statement of
18 August;
•
reaffirmed
its commitment to comprehensive implementation of its resolutions,
in
particular
resolution 687;
•
stressed
the unacceptability of any attempts by Iraq to deny access to any
site
or to
refuse to provide the necessary co-operation; and
225
UN Security
Council, 18 August 1998, ‘Letter dated 18 August 1998
from the President of the Security
Council
addressed to the Director General of the International Atomic
Energy Agency’ (S/1998/768); UN
Security
Council, 18 August 1998, ‘Letter dated 18 August 1998
from the President of the Security Council
addressed
to the Executive Chairman of the Special Commission established by
the Secretary-General
pursuant to
paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security Council resolution 687 (1991)’
(S/1998/769).
226
UN Security
Council, 6 October 1998, ‘Report of the Executive Chairman on
the activities of the Special
Commission
established by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 9 (b)
(i) of resolution 687 (1991)’
(S/1998/920).
127