SC/6596

SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES AGREEMENT OF IRAQ TO RESCIND EARLIER DECISIONS, ALLOW RESUMPTION OF UNSCOM AND I"A ACTIVITIES

15 November 1998


Press Release
SC/6596
IK/258


SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES AGREEMENT OF IRAQ TO RESCIND EARLIER DECISIONS, ALLOW RESUMPTION OF UNSCOM AND IAEA ACTIVITIES

19981115 Press Statement by President Says Council, Noting Past Experience, Looks to Iraq for `Unconditional Cooperation'

This is the text of a statement to the Press this evening by the President of the Security Council, Peter Burleigh (United States), following consultations among Council members:

Members of the Council noted the statements contained in the letter of 14 November to the Secretary-General from the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, as clarified by the subsequent letters of 14 November to the President of the Council from the Ambassador of Iraq, that Iraq has decided, clearly and unconditionally, to cooperate fully with the Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that this decision constitutes a rescinding of the decisions of 5 August and 31 October, and that Iraq's cooperation with the Special Commission and the IAEA will allow the return of inspectors to resume all their activities on an immediate, unconditional and unrestricted basis, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and with the Memorandum of Understanding of 23 February 1998.

Council members expressed their profound appreciation to the Secretary- General for his efforts, which has been fully supported by the statements and actions of the Security Council and of Member States.

Taking note of past experience with Iraq, Council members underlined that their confidence in Iraq's intentions needs to be established by unconditional and sustained cooperation with the Special Commission and the IAEA in exercising the full range of their activities provided for in their mandates in accordance with the relevant resolutions and the Memorandum of Understanding of 23 February 1998.

Council members expressed support for a full, immediate and effective implementation of the humanitarian programme in Iraq.

Council members reaffirmed their readiness to proceed with a comprehensive review, once the Secretary-General has confirmed, on the basis of reports from the Special Commission and the IAEA, that Iraq has returned to full cooperation, on the basis of resolution 1194 (1998) and the Council President's letter of 30 October to the Secretary-General.

The Security Council remains actively seized of the matter. * *** *

For information media. Not an official record.