Vol. 428 No. 1
69 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's view on recent military action taken by the United States against Iraq; if the Government supports the enforcement of UN resolutions on Iraq through military means; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Fundamental to Ireland's foreign policy is the view that international peace and security is based on respect for and compliance with the rule of international law, including the decisions of the UN Security Council. In the case of Iraq we expect the Iraqi Government to comply with the Resolutions of the Security Council and to co-operate fully with the United Nations in implementing them.
Resolution 687, adopted the Security Council on 3 April 1991, established the ceasefire arrangements at the end of the Gulf War. It provides for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and for the demarcation by the United Nations of the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait. On 11 January last, the President of the UN Security Council speaking on behalf of the Council, stated that Iraq was in material breach of Resolution 687 in respect of both those requirements. On 14 January, the UN Secretary General said that the military action taken by the US, France and the UK the previous day had received a mandate from the Security Council and conformed to the Resolutions of the Security Council and the Charter of the UN.
For Ireland's part, we regret that a situation arose where force once again was necessary to ensure compliance with the mandatory Resolutions of the Security Council. We remain convinced of the primacy of political action in international affairs. The aim must be peace in the region that will obviate the need for recourse to force and avoid further loss of life.
