B4-0182, 0200, 0201, 0204 and 0206/98

Resolution on the crisis in Iraq

19-02-1998

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Iraq,

- having regard to the UN Security Council resolutions on the situation in Iraq and especially Resolution 687 of April 1991,

A. whereas the UN Security Council has decided that Iraq must grant unrestricted and unconditional access for the UN weapons inspection teams to all locations on its territory,

B. noting with concern that Iraq has consistently and increasingly obstructed the work of UNSCOM"s inspection teams, most recently by putting an absolute ban on visits by UNSCOM to so-called &ldquopresidential&rdquo sites and objecting to the &ldquodisproportionate&rdquo number of US and UK inspectors included in the UNSCOM inspection teams,

C. emphasizing that Iraq"s deliberate policy of refusal to cooperate with UNSCOM is increasing the possibilities and the fears that Iraq will resume its production of weapons of mass destruction, and that UNSCOM has concluded that a significant capacity of biological and chemical weapons and missiles remains unaccounted for,

D. whereas Iraq in the past has not hesitated to use weapons of mass destruction, notably against Iranian forces during the Iran-Iraq war and against Kurdish civilians at Halabja in 1987,

E. emphasizing that Iraq"s non-compliance with the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 687 not only seriously defies the authority of the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole but also establishes a serious threat to peace and security in the whole of the Middle East,

F. whereas, according to the Treaty, the Council Presidency has to make all efforts to reach a common position on major issues of foreign and security policy and noting with regret that at this moment in time no common position has been agreed by the Council towards Iraq,

G. emphasizing that a joint EU policy towards Iraq, resulting in reinforced common diplomatic pressure on Iraq to comply fully with the terms of Security Council Resolution 687, may create the necessary conditions to avoid the need for military action against the country, which, although aimed at the destruction of Iraq"s potential to produce and use weapons of mass destruction, may also inflict casualties and serious damage on innocent civilians,

H. deeply disturbed by reliable reports from UN and other sources that the civilian population, which is in any case subject to Saddam Hussein"s oppressive regime, is suffering serious hardship, considerable health problems and a rise in mortality rates as the result of shortages of essential supplies, such as baby food, rice, pesticides, water purification chemicals, bandages and medicine,

I. emphasizing that the trade sanctions against Iraq may only be lifted if the country complies fully with the terms of Security Council Resolution 687, but emphasizing the need to help, and meet the urgent needs of, Iraq"s civilian population by an extension of the oil for food programme and by giving humanitarian assistance through the European Union"s ECHO programme,

J. whereas all attempts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis respecting the UN Security Council decisions have so far failed to produce a positive result,

1. Firmly believes that Iraq must accept the UN Security Council decisions concerning the unrestricted and unconditional access for the UN"s weapons inspection teams to all locations on its territory and calls on the Government of Iraq to cease immediately its consistent and increasing obstruction of the work of the UNSCOM inspection teams and finally to comply fully and immediately with the terms of UN Security Resolution 687;

2. Urges the Council to deploy all possible efforts to establish a joint EU policy towards Iraq, resulting in reinforced common diplomatic pressure on Iraq to comply fully with the terms of Security Council Resolution 687, thus seeking to create the necessary conditions to avoid the need for military action against the country and calls upon the Council Presidency to take the initiative to reach such a common position;

3. Calls upon all concerned, and especially on the UN Secretary-General, to make every effort possible to bring about Iraqi compliance through diplomatic and political means, also in dialogue with the EU"s Arab partners;

4. Emphasizes that any means other than diplomatic pressure to enforce Iraq"s full compliance with the terms of Security Council Resolution 687 should only be envisaged if all diplomatic actions have failed;

5. Believes however that were such efforts to remain unsuccessful, in the near future, following formal deliberation by the UN Security Council, further steps would have to be taken to force Iraq to comply with UN Security Council decisions;

6. Supports the decision to provide for an increase in the humanitarian aid, especially through the delivery of food and medical supplies, to the civilian population of Iraq, by way of an immediate and substantial increase in the oil-for-food programme as proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as by direct aid from the European Union"s ECHO programme; emphasizes, however, that this aid should be distributed without intervention from official Iraqi bodies and calls upon the Iraqi regime to end all obstruction to this distribution of humanitarian aid;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government of Iraq.