Trevor Sargent
Ceist:37 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to support the easing of the oil embargo on Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/94]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sanctions Against Iraq.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:42 Mr. Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq where there seems to be a renewed threat to Kuwait and on the massive buildup of US military forces in that region. [1389/94]
Richard Bruton
Ceist:49 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq where there seems to be a renewed threat to Kuwait and on the massive buildup of US military forces in that region. [1391/94]
Nora Owen
Ceist:62 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq where there seems to be a renewed threat to Kuwait and on the massive buildup of US military forces in that region. [1388/94]
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:73 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the increased tension in the Gulf area arising from reported Iraqi troop movements; if he will urge all parties to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute; his views on the continuing economic sanctions against Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1442/94]
Paul McGrath
Ceist:97 Mr. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq where there seems to be a renewed threat to Kuwait and on the massive buildup of US military forces in that region. [1390/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 42, 49, 62, 73 and 97 together.
Sanctions were imposed on Iraq by the United Nations Security Council as a result of Iraq's invasion and attempted annexation of Kuwait in 1990. Various Security Council Resolutions set out the conditions which must be fulfilled before action can be taken to ease sanctions including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kuwait and the establishment of an effective control system to verify that Iraq meets its obligations in the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. It is matter for the Security Council to decide when the conditions are fully met and when the sanctions can be suspended or lifted.
Ireland fully observes Security Council sanctions and implements them in its domestic regulations and practices. In accordance with our international obligations we will continue to do so.
The Government also supports Security Council Resolution 833 which reaffirms the inviolability of the borders of Kuwait. The deployment of substantial numbers of Iraqi troops close to the border with Kuwait earlier this month was a matter of grave concern. In a statement issued on 11 October, the European Union urged Iraq to withdraw its troops immediately from the border region and refrain from confrontation. The Union also urged Iraq to cooperate fully with the implementation of all relevant Security Council Resolutions.
I welcome recent reports that Iraq is withdrawing its troops from the Kuwaiti border area and that it may now be ready to recognise the sovereignty and borders of Kuwait in accordance with Resolution 833.
I remain convinced that the full compliance of Iraq with all relevant resolutions of the Security Council is the means whereby a de-escalation of tensions, an increase in security and durable peace can be brought to the region.
I thank the Tánaiste for his reply and I have no doubt the Security Council is capable of thinking for itself and making decisions accordingly. Will the Tánaiste bear in mind, however, other reports emanating from Iraq, not mentioned in his reply, which indicate that much suffering has taken place there? More people have died from hunger and malnutrition since the invasion of Kuwait than in the military operation and the ongoing suffering of the people should be a factor. Will the Tánaiste indicate whether there is any room for a quid pro quo in return for the dismantling of military capabilities? Is he prepared, on behalf of the Government to support an easing of the sanctions which could perhaps find an expression in willingness to allow military aid to be sent to Iraq if that was required to alleviate the suffering and malnutrition reported from Iraq?
The matters raised by the Deputy are matters of genuine concern. We have all heard reports of great hardships to the Iraqi civilian population resulting from sanctions. I would point out that the importation of medical supplies and basic foodstuffs into Iraq is not prohibited by the UN sanctions. In addition, the UN Security Council Resolutions 706 and 712 permit the export of oil to fund purchases of food, medicines and goods for essential civilian use. Iraq has refused to accept the terms of these resolutions. It must bear some if not all of the responsibility for the continued deterioration of living standards. This is regrettable. Iraq and its leadership has to make much progress in terms of meeting what I regard as the legitimate concerns of the United Nations, if not the rest of the world, and if Iraq makes the moves required, the rest of the world will respond.
Will the Tánaiste elaborate further on that? If the Iraqi authorities are using the sanctions as a political football to blackmail the rest of the world through the imposition of humanitarian hardship on their own country, is it possible that could be addressed as a single issue rather than using the sledgehammer of imposing sanctions to force Iraq to change its position while its civilians suffer? Am I correct that some of the motivation for maintaining sanctions is that the interests of the oil industry are keen to maintain high oil prices? This should not be allowed to cloud the picture when it comes to alleviating human suffering.
We should not allow any aspect, such as oil prices, cloud the issues in the hardship endured by the civilian population. We must be clear, however, on the actual position. The principal requirement for lifting sanctions is agreement on the part of members of the Security Council that Iraq has complied with all relevant Security Council resolutions. The main obligations imposed on Iraq by the UN are set out in Resolution 687 which contains, inter alia, detailed provisions concerning the disposal of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and the establishment of a system that would allow the UN to monitor Iraqi compliance with the terms of the resolution in the future. Resolution 687 also demands that Iraq and Kuwait respect the inviolability of each other's borders. This was further elaborated on in Security Council Resolution 833. I do not wish to follow up the line of a political football but Iraq must make certain gestures and what it did in the last few weeks has not helped its standing in the international community. We all have obligations and in this case Iraq has obligations which it must try to fulfil.