PARLIAMENT OF LESOTHO IRAQ ISSUE  

STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS – MR. M.K. TSEKOA

  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 

Following the Iran-Iraq war in 1990, the Iraqi Government accused Kuwait of siphoning oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields straddling the Iraq-Kuwait border.  The Iraqi Government also accused the Gulf states of holding down the oil prices, thus succumbing to the desires of the Western powers to damage Iraq’s interests.  Hosni Mubarak of Egypt attempted to mediate, but Iraq broke-off the negotiations and its army occupied Kuwait on August 2^nd 1990.

  This act of aggression by Iraq was condemned by US, Moscow, UK and the United Nations Security Council passed UNSC Resolution 660 (1990) demanding the immediate withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait territory.  Sanctions were imposed by the European Community, the Soviet Union and Japan.  The United Nations Security Council also imposed strict economic sanctions on Iraq (UNSC Res. 661 (1990).

  Fearing similar aggression, Saudi Arabia asked for protection from the US, and President George Bush Sr. deployed 200,000 American troops (Operation Desert Shield) in Saudi Arabia.

  On August 8^th, 1990, Iraq formally annexed Kuwait as its 19^th Province, this was condemned by the UN Security Council (UNSC Res. 662 (1990).  A coalition of Nations to liberate Kuwait was also building up at this time, and on August 25 1990, the UN Security Council voted to allow the Allied forces in the Persian Gulf, to use force to enforce the economic blockade on Iraq (UNSC) Res. 665 (1990) on 25 August.

  Efforts aimed at preventing the outbreak of war between the allied forces and Iraq failed, the UNSC Security Council authorized member states cooperating with Kuwait unless Iraq, on or before 15 January 1991, fully implements UNSC Res. 660 (1990), to use all necessary means to uphold the resolution, Iraq did not comply, on 16^th January 1991, the US renamed Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and operations to liberate Kuwait commenced.  The Gulf war officially ended on 27 February, 1991, when Iraq conceded defeat and announced that Iraq would abide by all the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

 POST GULF WAR ACTIVITIES

  After the formal cease-fire between Iraq and US led coalition, on 3^rd April, 1991, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution establishing a United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) to work with Iraq to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 km, together with related items and production facilities (UNSC Res. 687 (1991)).  The resolution further called for measures to ensure that acquisition and production of prohibited items is not resumed.  UNSCOM was to deal with the non-nuclear aspects of the resolution while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was to deal with the nuclear aspects.  Iraq formally accepted the provisions of Res. 687 on 18 April 1991.

  By exchange of letters, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq established modalities and the legal basis on which the inspections would be conducted.  These letters constituted a legal framework for the inspections.

  UNSCOM’S execution of mandate

  UNSCOM began its first chemical weapons, and missile inspections in June 1991.  This was the beginning of its long periods of frustrations with Iraq stopping the inspectors and denying them access to some sites.  Iraq had an obligation to actively cooperate with the Inspectors as mandated by UNSC Res 707 (1991).  This resolution demanded that Iraq should provide, without delay full, final and complete disclosures of its proscribed weapons programmes as required by Resolution 687 (1991).  There were frequent clashes as well as the stopping of some Inspectors by the Iraqis.  This resulted in the Security Council passing Resolution UNSC Res. 715 (1991), which called for Iraq’s unconditional acceptance of Inspectors and all other personnel designated by UNSCOM.  Iraq openly challenged Resolution 715 and stated that it was not ready to comply with it.  In short, Iraq’s cooperation with UNSCOM was unconvincing, and several resolutions calling for active and full cooperation were passed by the Security Council.

The difficult process of inspections in Iraq continued well into 1998, when on August 5, the Iraqi Government decided to halt cooperation with UNSCOM and the IAEA.  They would only resuscitate it if the Security Council lifted the oil embargo placed on Iraq.  Security Council condemned this action.  UNSCOM closed its activities in Iraq on 16 December, 1998, having not achieved much.

The Security Council still felt that the exercise should be carried out as the after-effects of the chemical weapons in Kuwait were frightening and posed a threat to world peace, hence the establishment of the United nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) by UNSC Res. 1284 (1999).  The UNMOVIC’s mandate was to replace UNSCOM and continue with its mandate as given UNSCOM by UNSC Res. 687 (1991) 3^rd April.

It is significant to mention that for three (3) years after 1998, Iraq refused to accept any inspections by UNMOVIC.  On 16 September, 2002, after repeated appeals by the UN Secretary-General, the League of Arab States, and a lot of pressure from the US, Iraq declared its willingness to accept inspections without conditions.  The Security Council passed Resolution 1441 (2002), with an emphasis on Iraq’s active cooperation with UNMOVIC.  The unanimous adoption of the resolution demonstrated council’s determination to disarm Iraq.

  On 27 January 2003, the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC, Hans Blix, presented his first report to council.  A second report was presented on 14 February 2003.  The Executive Chairman in his latter report was a lot more optimistic and commended Iraq for signs of active cooperation, but we still called for total disclosure of evidence relating to the claim of the destruction of some biological, chemical weapons as well as proscribed missiles.

  THE CURRENT SITUATION

  There are two main divisions within the Security Council, mainly on whether war should be declared against Iraq for failure to disclose/comply fully with the UNSC Res. 1441.

The US led alliance, consisting of UK and Spain seem to be geared to opting for war without much ado, whilst the France led alliance, consisting of Germany and Russia call for more time to be given to the Inspectors. 

LESOTHO'S POSITION

Chapter I of the United Nations charter in Article 1 states the purpose of the United Nations.

  Purpose (1) of the UN is to maintain international peace and security.

  The United Nations was formed “not to make war” but to maintain international peace.

  Articles 39-42 prescribe how the Security Council, which is charged with the responsibility to determine threats to international security may act to ensure return to peace.  It is for these reasons that there is reluctance by three of the five permanent members of the Security Council to authorize the use of force, to any nation, to resolve the Iraq issue.  China is more or less on the side of France.

The Central Organ of the mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the African Union passed a declaration on the Iraq crisis on 3 February 2003, which clearly calls on all Parties to make sustained efforts to avoid the use of force in Iraq.

  The Non-Aligned Movement is against the use of force.

  The Africa-France Summit, recently held in Paris, France Expressed deep concerns about the use of force.

  Lesotho, is a peace loving Nation, is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and also participated at the Africa-France Summit.

  The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, delivered a statement at the Non-Aligned Movement, and unequivocally put Lesotho’s position before the 115 Member States gathered at the Summit.

  One cannot do more than quote him “It is our submission that all Member States of the United Nations must abide by its principles, and remember that the Security Council is the only body charged with world peace and security,  Consequently, no one Member State has a right to act contrary to the Council’s decisions.  It is in this spirit that we call on the Government of Iraq to submit fully to the Security Council resolutions for its disarmament and extend maximum cooperation to the UN Weapons Inspectors.  By the same token, and in the most unequivocal manner, we call on all Governments, particularly those of the United States and Great Britain to refrain forthwith, from their intentions and preparations to unilaterally declare war on Iraq.

 The idea of declaring war on a Member State of the United Nations in this day and age, goes against the very raison d’etre for the United Nations Organization.  Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, the United Nations Organization’s mission is to prevent war and NOT to prosecute war.  War is simply NOT an option or alternative available to the UN, not even as the so-called last resort.  Moreover, History teaches us that it was precisely the kind of unilateralism we see today that destroyed the League of Nations.  We dare not allow it to rear its ugly head again and destroy the United Nations Organization in the process.”

  CONCLUSION

  It is against this background that it is hoped that a fertile common ground will be found, which will in no way talk about war, simply because war in Iraq would certainly be a destabilizing factor for the whole world, Africa and the Gulf in particular, and would have far reaching economic and security consequences.  The possibility of the demise of the United Nations and the outbreak of the third world war ever being present.

17 March 2003