Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - UN Sanctions.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

86 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the latest US and UK initiative on Iraq at the UN Security Council is a genuine attempt to resolve the humanitarian crisis in that country; and if the Government has made alternative proposals at the Security Council on the issue. [17918/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 86 together.

The Government has consistently made clear its grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Iraq. It therefore welcomes the initiative by Britain and the United States for changes to the operation of the UN sanctions regime on Iraq. In our view the new proposals appear to be a major step in the right direction. We are examining those proposals closely and are playing an active and constructive role in the negotiations in the Security Council where agreement on a new resolution is required by the end of this month.

In response to their initiative, I have written to US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, outlining the concern of the Government to achieve a resolution which will provide, to the fullest extent possible, for the normalisation and development of the Iraqi economy for the benefit of the people of Iraq. This would include normal trade in civilian goods and the restoration of Iraq's infrastructure and production capacity, while maintaining those controls essential to prevent the Iraqi regime from developing weapons of mass destruction.

In addition to the current British-US proposals, which focus on a revised system for the importation of goods into Iraq, Ireland has proposed further measures to permit foreign investment and international service contracts, within the context of effective weapons control. I am hopeful that because of our efforts these issues will be addressed in the final resolution. The existing British-US proposals involve a reversal of the underlying concept of how the sanctions regime operates. It would no longer be the case that all imports must be authorised and every import contract assessed to establish that it has no military use. Rather, all goods will be allowed into Iraq except those items specified on a goods review list. The current system of 180 day distribution plans to be agreed between the Government of Iraq and the UN would no longer be required.

The content of the goods review list is a vital element of the current negotiations. In my view the list should be as precise as possible and be limited to those dual use items that have a clear military application. As important is the manner in which the list will be applied by the 661 committee. In order to achieve the humanitarian objectives shared by all members of the Security Council, I see it as crucial for the 661 committee not to act in an excessively restrictive way. This is a particular concern which I have raised in my letters to the US Secretary of State and the British Foreign Secretary. Items on the list should not be blocked if they are verifiably being imported for specific civilian use. This is especially the case for needed infrastructural projects in Iraq. These projects should not be prevented, restricted or delayed simply because a constituent item required for the project appears in the list. I am hopeful that in the final resolution agreement will also be reached on the procedures for dealing with contract applications to leave as little room as possible for ambiguity.