Vol. 498 No. 4
104 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU General Affairs Council recently considered the situation in Iraq, including the success or otherwise of the UN verification team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27718/98]
The General Affairs Council of 9 November considered the situation arising from Iraq's refusal to allow the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) to carry out its mandate as laid down by the UN Security Council.
The Council condemned as totally unacceptable Iraq's decision of 31 October to cease all co-operation with UNSCOM. It supported the Security Council's response to that decision and urged Iraq to resume full co-operation with UNSCOM and the IAEA immediately. The EU welcomed the fact that the Security Council had again expressed its readiness to hold a comprehensive review of Iraq's obligations once Iraq had resumed co-operation. The EU confirmed its full support for the Secretary General in his efforts to seek full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding of 23 February 1998.
The Council made clear the EU's intention to work to ensure more effective implementation of the oil for food programme and full Iraqi co-operation in preventing any unnecessary suffering for the Iraqi people.
This latest crisis was resolved by undertakings given by Iraq, on 14 and 15 November, to permit UNSCOM inspectors to resume their normal duties.
I have since noted with concern recent reports that not all the requests which the UNSCOM inspectors have made for documents and access to various buildings are being met as satisfactorily as they would wish. Following protests by the UN office in Baghdad some of the difficulties have been resolved. I understand that the Chairman of UNSCOM will be reporting shortly on the overall situation to the Security Council and I await his report with interest.
