Information Sources:
Government sites and statements

[Go to Information Sources contents page]

This section contains an incomplete listing of statements and documents by governments and inter-governmental organisations on Iraq. It attempts to link directly to official websites. As a result, it has fewer remarks from those governments who have less well-developed websites. Please e-mail CASI if you know of any links that should be added.

Click on a name on this list to go straight to the statements of the relevant country or organisation:

• Permanent Members of the Security Council: UK | US | France | Russia | China
• Other States: Australia | Austria | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belgium | Canada | Colombia | Congo, DR | Côte d'Ivoire | Cuba | Ecuador | Egypt | Ethiopia | Finland | Germany | Holy See | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jordan | Kenya | Kuwait | Libya | Malaysia | Mali | Mauritius | Morocco | Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Oman | Qatar | Romania | Saudi Arabia | Singapore | Spain | Syria | Thailand | Tunisia | Turkey | Ukraine | United Arab Emirates | Yemen | Zimbabwe
• International Organizations: The European Union | The Interparliamentary Union | The League of Arab States | Organization of the Islamic Conference (Note that organizations within the United Nations system are listed on a separate page)

The Government of the United Kingdom

• House of Commons International Development Committee
  • "Preparing for the humanitarian consequences of possible military action against Iraq" (10 March 2003). Also available in html format. A written statement by Clare Short (Secretary of State for International Development) on March 13 is here.
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • The statement of Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, to the UN Security Council, pp. 8-9 (20 January 2003).
  • Statement by Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary (18 December 2002) - explaining the British position on the Iraqi weapons declaration.
  • Press release: "Time to kill the lie that the West is responsible for the Iraqi people's suffering" (24 November 2002). See also CASI's analysis of the press release.
  • Relations with Iraq page: presents Britain's Iraq policy.
    Recent statements include:
    • Interview with the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, on 24 March 2002, reviewing the arguments about an attack on Iraq.
    • Article by the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, in The Times, 5 March 2002, on the alleged threat of Iraq's non-conventional weapons and the proposed reforms to the sanctions regime.
      
  • Statement on Security Council Resolution 1382 (29 November 2001): "The introduction of a Goods Review List, under which Iraq will be free to meet all of its civilian needs, will leave the Iraqi regime with no further excuses for the suffering of the Iraqi people".
  • Statement by Jeremy Greenstock, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN, in the UN Security Council (27 June 2001) - explaining and defending the British position and the British draft resolution. (local copy)
  • Article by FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ben Bradshaw, in al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on "the problem of Iraq" (21 June 2001).
  • Two FCO reference documents:
    • List of sanctions in force by country (June 2001).
    • Summary of Additional UK Restrictions on on the Export of Strategic Goods (April 2001): includes the criteria on arms sales derived from the EU, CSCE and Security Council agreements.
  • Statement from the Foreign Office after FCO Minister, Brian Wilson held talks with Kuwaiti Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Mohammed Sabah, focused on Iraq (10 April 2001).
  • Edited Transcript of an Interview given by FCO Minister Of State, Brian Wilson, for the BBC on the sanctions on Iraq (26 February 2001).
  • Statement by the Secretary Of State For Defence, Geoff Hoon, on Operations to Enforce the "No-Fly Zones" over Iraq, House Of Commons (26 February 2001)
  • Edited Transcript of an Interview given by FCO Minister Of State, Britain [sic - Brian] Wilson, for BBC Radio on Sanctions and Military Strikes on Iraq. This page is no longer accessible on the FCO site, but the text appears in the second half of this archived message. (21 February 2001).
  • Article by the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, in the Daily Telegraph (20 February 2001).
  • Statement by the Defence Minister Of State, Baroness Symons, House Of Lords, on the military strikes on Iraq (19 February 2001).
  • Edited Transcript of an Interview given by The Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, for BBC TV, on the bombing of Iraq (18 February 2001).
  • Statement by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on the bombing of Iraq (17 February 2001).
  • Edited Transcript of an Interview by FCO Minister Of State, Peter Hain, for BBC Radio 4, on sanctions and Iraq (16 January 2001). No longer on FCO site, but the transcript is reproduced in this archived email message.
  • Article by FCO Minister Of State, Peter Hain, in The Guardian Newspaper, defending the sanctions regime (6 January 2001).
  • Human Rights in Iraq Deteriorate (November 2000). Please note that this "FCO network feature" makes numerous simple factual errors, such as the claim (p.8) that Iraq only allowed the "oil for food" programme to commence in late 1999 (the programme actually began in December 1996, based upon a UN-Iraq agreement from May 1996), and the statement (p.9) that Security Council Resolution 1284 was passed in 1996 (in fact 17 December 1999). Therefore, the FCO document should not be relied upon for accuracy.
  • 'Britain and the Gulf 2000', speech by FCO Minister of State, Peter Hain, London (7 November 2000). (local copy)
  • Edited transcript of a briefing given by FCO Minister of State, Peter Hain, London (23 October 2000).
  • Britain's Policy in the Middle East, speech by FCO Minister of State, Peter Hain, to the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU) (17 July 2000).
• Proposals (11 July 2002) for Iraqi oil pricing, attempting to arrest the decline in Iraqi oil exports.
• The UK's draft resolution to the Security Council of 20 June 2001 proposes a variety of changes to the existing sanctions regime. Earlier draft resolutions obtained by CASI include those of 8 June 2001 (also in pdf format); and 22 May 2001. The annex to the UK's draft resolution, dated 29 June 2001, contains a list of items still considered to be "dual-use", and for which a special regime will continue to apply. An earlier version of this annex, dated 24 May 2001, can also be found.
• Britain, Unscom and Iraq, a joint website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence on the now-defunct Unscom. Apparently not maintained since early 1999.
• Statement by the UK's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.22-23: "You cannot deal with the misdeeds of a country’s Government without, regrettably, having some impact on the civilian population."
• Statement by the UK's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.35-37: "My Government believes that it will in fact prove impossible for Iraq to rejoin the community of civilized nations while Saddam Hussein remains in power."
• Statement by the UK's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.18-19: "By provoking a human tragedy ... it [Iraq] is seeking to open a breach in the sanctions which this Council has imposed upon it."
• Home Office
  • Iraq Assessment (Version 5) of October 2000. Produced by the Country Information and Policy Unit, of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, to provide the Home Office with information for the assessment of asylum claims. The September 1999 version of the document can be found here.
• House of Commons
  • Find and e-mail your MP
  • Fax your MP for free
  • Debates and Written answers on Iraq from 1990 to 2002: an extensive and partially annotated index compiled by CASI.
  • Select Committee on Defence - Thirteenth Report Iraqi no-fly zones (2 August 2000). The government's response to the report is here (12 October 2000).
  • Select Committee on Defense - Seventh Report Gulf Veterans' Illnesses (11 May 2000). The government's response is printed as the Eleventh Special Report (3 August 2000).
  • Select Committee on International Development - Second Report The Future of Sanctions (10 February 2000). The government's response to the report is here (16 May 2000), CASI's briefing is here (25 June) and the transcript of the ensuing parliamentary debate is here (29 June 2000).
  • research papers:
    • Iraq: "Desert Fox" and Policy Developments (10 February 1999).
    • The Iraq Crisis (16 February 1998).
• UK political parties:
  • The Liberal Democrats Party. The LibDems has called for the lifting of the non-military sanctions on Iraq. The speech by their foreign policy spokesman, Menzies Campbell, is here (18 September 2000). CASI's press release is here.
  • The Labour Party:
    • Labour's National Policy Forum produced a foreign policy doument, Britain in the World, which is almost silent on sanctions on Iraq. Page 192 promises that "In a second term, Labour will ... make economic sanctions less harsh on people and more effective in penalising delinquent rulers", without offering any suggestions as to how (7 September). CASI's submission to the process is here.
    • "Iraq briefing" for the Parliamentary Labour Party, 5 March 2002, prepared by Foreign Office and Labour Party officials. Presented by the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Labour MPs, and containing his views on sanctions and Iraq's non-conventional weapons. Background information to, and a review of, this briefing is here.
  • The Conservative Party. Policy recommendations can be submitted electronically to here.
• House of Lords
  • oral answers on Iraq, non-conventional weapons and the UN inspectorate (25 July 2002).
  • written answer on Iraq and high price of oil (2 October 2000).
  • debate (23 May 2000).
  • debate (21 March 2000).

The Government of the United States of America

• White House News Releases
  • Statement by President George W. Bush, including him saying "the United Nations should life [sic] economic sanctions" on Iraq (16 April 2003)
  • State of the Union address by President George W. Bush (29 January 2002): claims Iraq is part of an "axis of evil".
  • Remarks by President George W. Bush (26 November 2001): When asked about the consequences of Saddam Hussein not allowed the readmittance of arms inspectors, Mr Bush answered, "he'll find out." Repeated on 16 January 2002.
  • Remarks by President George W. Bush (7 August 2001): current military missions are in accordance with "established allied war plans".
  • Remarks by President George W. Bush (23 February 2001): "any time anybody suffers in Iraq, we're concerned about it. [...] to the extent the sanctions are hurting the Iraqi people, we're going to analyze that. [...] A change in the sanction regime that is not working should not be any kind of signal whatsoever to [Saddam Hussein] that he should cross any line".
  • Remarks by President George W. Bush (22 February 2001): states that sanctions are effective when "the collective will of the region supports the [sanctions] policy" and implicitly acknowledges that the sanctions on Iraq fail this criterion.
• Department of State
  • background briefing on reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in post-war Iraq. (14 March 2003).
  • Recent speeches by the Secretary of State:
    • Official transcript of Security Council meeting S/PV.4701, including Colin Powell's statement (5 February 2003). See also the accompanying briefing slides.
    • The statement of Colin Powell to the UN Security Council, pp. 17-19 (20 January 2003).
    • Interview with Colin Powell (conducted by the Financial Times on 12 February 2002): "Sanctions and the pressure of sanctions are part of a strategy of regime change".
    • Testimony as delivered by Colin L. Powell, at the budget hearings, House of Representatives International Relations Committe (6 February 2002): claims that "smart sanctions will take care of" the alleged problems to civilians caused by sanctions. Largely on weapons inspections.
    • Prepared Testimony of Colin L. Powell, at the budget hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (5 February 2002): "we successfully stopped the free fall of sanctions and began to rebuild United Nations Security Council consensus on Iraq. The UNSC unanimously adopted resolution 1382 in November, committing itself to implement the central element of 'smart sanctions' by May 30 of this year."
    • Testimony as delivered by Colin L. Powell, at the budget hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (5 February 2002): adds comments on weapons inspections to the prepared text above.
  • List of most recent statements on Iraq.These include:
    • Summary of U.S. Assistance to the Iraqi Opposition Since 1996 (1 February 2002).
    • Secretary Powell on CNN's "Larry King Live" (27 November 2001): mostly on the purposes of "smart sanctions", but also includes an implicit acknowledgement that the US will maintain UN sanctions on Iraq as long as Saddam Hussein remains in power: "We all hoped that Saddam Hussein would not survive the aftermath of [the Gulf War]. But he has. And that's why these sanctions remain in place".
    • U.S. Works with UNSC on "Smart Sanctions" on Iraq (27 November 2001).
    • U.S. Committed to Security Council Consensus on Iraq: Sanctions Need to Improve Humanitarian Situation, Prevent Iraq from Rearming (21 November 2001).
    • U.S. Endorses 5-Month Extension of U.N. Controls on Iraq: text of speech by the US Acting Permanent Representative to the UN in the Security Council (3 July 2001); also available here.
    • U.S. Supports U.K. Proposal to Revise Iraq Sanctions: statement by the US Acting Permanent Representative to the UN in the Security Council (26 June 2001).
    • U.S. Official Calls Russian Proposal on Iraq "Unhelpful": comments to the press by statement by the US Acting Permanent Representative to the UN (26 June 2001).
    • U.S. Reaction to U.N. Resolution on Iraq: World body to help Iraqi people, deter Iraqi military (1 June 2001).
    • Powell Explains Changes in Iraq Sanctions Policy (8 March 2001): "Revised policy strengthens U.N. sanctions regime".
    • State Dept Spokesman on Iraq Sanctions (28 February 2001): "Sanctions on goods with military applications to be tightened".
    • Powell Briefs En Route to Brussels on Iraqi Sanctions (26 February 2001).
    • Fact Sheet: Iraqi Underspending: Saddam Hussein Wastes Iraqi Resources and Funds (26 January 2001).
  • US Ambassador James Cunningham's defence of US policy in the Security Council (24 March 2000). Note that Cunningham is the US Deputy Representative to the UN. Richard Holbrooke, its Representative, seems to have avoided statements on Iraq.
  • Saddam Hussein's Iraq (13 September 1999, updated 24 March 2000). Called by former UN Assistant Secretary-General Hans von Sponeck, the "finest example of distortion: every single figure is either not referenced or incorrect" (6 May 2000, London).
  • Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Iraq:
    Up to 1999, section 1(g) of these reports comments on the human rights consequences of the "no fly zones". The reference to these zones has been omitted from the 2000 report.
    • 2000 (25 February 2001).
    • 1999 (25 February 2000).
    • 1998 (26 February 1999).
    • 1997 (30 January 1998).
    • 1996 (30 January 1997).
  • Remarks at Town Hall Meeting, Ohio State University by Madeleine Albright, William Cohen and Sandy Berger (18 February 1998). This is the famous "town hall meeting" where Albright, Cohen and Berger were ridiculed when trying to present US Iraq policy to students.
  • Preserving principle and safeguarding stability: United States policy toward Iraq, Madeleine Albright at Georgetown University (26 March 1997). These are Ms Albright's first detailed remarks on Iraq as Secretary of State.
• U.S. Mission to the United Nations
  • The Iraq page contains links to many of the speeches by the U.S. permanent representative to the U.N. on sanctions. These speeches are generally archived on the Department of State site, above.
  • Fact sheet on the "Goods Review List" introduced by Security Council Resolution 1409 (14 May 2002).
• Statement by the US representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.20-21: "This is not a resolution lifting sanctions. In fact, it will strengthen the sanctions by preventing the Iraqi Government from seeking political and military gains through the misery of the Iraqi people which it has itself caused."
• Statement by the US representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.25-28: "As soon as Iraq accepts the provisions of the resolution a formal cease-fire becomes effective, and as Iraq meets the stipulations of the resolution the sanctions regime will be modified ... Upon implementation of the provisions dealing with weapons of mass destruction and the compensation regime, the sanctions against Iraq's exports will also be lifted."
• Statement by the US representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.12-13: "the mechanisms established in the resolution affirm both the genuine humanitarian concern of the members of the Council for the condition of civilians ... and the determination of the Council to stand firmly behind the sanctions designed to secure Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait."
• Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Assistance for Iraq.
  • Internal documents: "Vision for post-war Iraq" (19 February, 2003). A follow-up memo (dated 24 February) provides further information on some issues.
• Department of Defense .
  • Operation Northern Watch.
  • Operation Southern Watch. NOTE: This site incorrectly claims that France participated in this "no fly zone". France does not; it condemns the zones in English and in French. The error was pointed out to the webmaster on 10 July 2000; it was still there on 21 July 2002, despite the overall renovation of the site. Information about the Shaheed Mwaffaq Air Base, Jordan, from which some combat missions were flown for this zone, is here.
  • US Forces Order of Battle As of Tuesday 30 November 1999, posted by the Federation of American Scientists, a privately-funded non-profit policy organization.
  • News archive.
  • Photo archive, by military operation (Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Desert Strike and Desert Fox all relate to Iraq).
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
    • Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities (18 January 1991), a document describing Iraq's water treatment system and estimating that "it probably will take at least six months (to June 1991) before the system is fully degraded". This report appears in the declassified documents section of the website of the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses of the Department of Defense. CASI has been provided with two very different interpretations of this document. On the one hand, a paper by Thomas J. Nagy, entitled "The Role of 'Iraq Water Treatment Vulnerabilities' in Halting One Genocide and Preventing Others" (12 June 2001), makes the case that it is "a planning document for the commission of genocide" (a shorter published version entitled, "The Secret Behind the Sanctions: How the U.S. Intentionally Destroyed Iraq's Water Supply", is here). Dr Nagy points out that part of this document appears to be missing still, and thus the document has been only partially declassified. On the other hand, an anonymous individual purporting to be one of the document's authors explains that it was designed to provide "an estimate/assessment of the impact of sanctions beyond what was originally intended (double-effect/unintended consequences)." This second source also claims that the document was never classified in the first place.
  • Displaced Civilian (DC) Camp Operations - a Microsoft Power Point presentation dated 11 November 2002 from the US military, most likely from the Civilian Military Operations unit of the Combined Forces Land Component Command. Its aim is "to coordinate Government of Kuwait/IO [International Organization] - NGO [Non-Governmental Organization] support for Displaced Civilian (DC) Camps in the Iraq-Kuwait demilitarized zone and Southern Iraq in the event of coalition hostilities with Iraq, and to present the concept for a Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC)". It includes estimates for numbers of displaced civilians and predicts the causes of that displacement.
  • "Saddam's Ultimate Solution": an extended interview with Richard Perle, chairman of the Defense Policy Board on the "Wide Angle" PBS documentary (11 July 2002).
  • Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute "conducts research in the field of radiobiology and related matters essential to the operational and medical support of the U.S. Department of Defense and the military services." They have a research team investigating the Health Effects of Embedded Depleted Uranium
• Department of Energy
  • Energy Information Administration
    • Iraq page - contains links to data on Iraq's energy sector.
    • The Iraq country analysis page.
    • The World Energy Database is a fairly comprehensive energy sector database.
• Department of the Treasury
  • The Office of Foreign Assets Control has an overview, "Iraq: What you need to know about the U.S. embargo" and a list of regulations relating to the US implementation of sanctions on Iraq.
• Central Intelligence Agency
  • CIA 2001 World Factbook Iraq page contains some basic background information on Iraq.
  • The Iraq sections of Unclassified Reports to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions
    • 1 January Through 30 June 2001.
    • 1 July through 31 December 2000.
    • 1 January through 30 June 2000.
  • Declassified CIA documents on the Gulf posted by the Federation of American Scientists, a privately-funded non-profit policy organization.
• House of Representatives (Congress)
  • Transcript of the Hearing of the House International Relations Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia: U.S. Policy Towards Iraq (4 October 2001).
  • Congressional Record Index:
    • 106th Congress: Second Session (2000) | First Session (1999)
    • 105th Congress: Second Session (1998) | First Session (1997)
    • 104th Congress: Second Session (1996) | First Session (1995)
    • 103rd Congress: Second Session (1994)
  • Relevant legislation:
    • H.R.4655 (Public Law 105-338), the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998" (html / pdf). This Act states that it "should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government" (Section 3) and authorizes the provision of financial assistance to "the Iraqi democratic opposition organizations", including up to $97 million in military assistance (Section 4). The Bill was passed by 360 to 38 votes in the House of Representatives (voting record here) and unanimously in the Senate. The Bill's history is recorded here.
    • H.J.RES.77 (Public Law 102-1), "A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678"; see also S.J.RES.2 (12 January 1991).
  • Proposed US House of Representatives Resolution on the Use of Force Against Iraq (29 July 2002).
  • Press releases from US Congressman Tony Hall's trip to Iraq: before (13 April 2000) and after (24 April 2000). On 25 April he gave a CNN interview and a PBS interview.
  • Congressional Aides' report on their mission to Iraq (14 March 2000).
  • Conyers/Cambell letter, letter signed by 70 US Representatives asking President Clinton to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq (1 February 2000). The AIPAC-sponsored "keep the sanctions" letter in response is here, and the subsequent press release listing its signatories is here. NOTE: the AIPAC letter contains a number of factual errors (such as forgetting to include UN deductions from Iraqi oil revenues in their calculations) and should therefore not be regarded as a reliable source.
  • Briefing to House Armed Services Committee by CIA director, William Webster, on expected consequences of the sanctions on Iraq. Explains that sanctions are already harming Iraqi economy (5 December 1990).
  • The Library of Congress' 1990 book, Iraq - A Country Study.
  • The General Accounting Office of Congress:
    • Weapons of Mass Destruction: U.N. Confronts Significant Challenges in Implementing Sanctions against Iraq (doc ref: GAO-02-625) (29 May 2002)
  • Briefings by the Congressional Research Service
    • Iraq: Compliance, Sanctions, and U.S. Policy: Issue Brief IB92117 (6 September 2002).
      • 29 November 2001 version.
      • 29 May 2001 version: "no hard evidence of Iraqi reconstitution of WMD programs has surfaced." (summary, para.1; not in other versions).
      • 9 March 2001 version (entitled Iraqi Compliance with Cease-Fire Agreements).
      • Earlier version (27 November 1998).
    • Former and Recent Military Confrontations With the United States: Issue Brief IB94049 (6 September 2002).
      • 20 November 2001 version (entitled Iraq-U.S. Confrontation).
      • 16 May 2001 version.
      • 27 February 2001 version.
      • Earlier version for 1997 - 1998 (17 December 1998).
      • Earlier version from 5 December 1996.
    • Iraq: U.S. Efforts to Change the Regime: Report RL31339 (22 March 2002).
    • Iraq Crisis: U.S. and Allied Forces (text or PDF) (6 March 1998).
    • Iraq: International Support For U.S. Policy (text or PDF) (19 February 1998).
    • Economic Sanctions to Achieve U.S. Foreign Policy Goals: Discussion and Guide to Current Law (20 October 1997).
    • Iraq's Food and Agricultural Situation During the Embargo and the War (26 February 1991).
• The Senate
  • Testimonies given at the Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate on 31 July - 1 August 2002:
    • Full text (on CASI site).
    • Official version: Day 1 (Khidir Hamza, Anthony Cordesman, Robert Gallucci, Morton Halperin, Charles Duelfer, Shibley Telhami; testimonies of Richard Butler, Joseph Hoar, Thomas McInerney, Fouad Ajami, Geoffrey Kemp and Mark Parris are presently unavailable), Day 2 (Phebe Marr, Rahim Francke, Scott Feil, Samuel Berger; testimonies of Sinan al-Shabibi and Caspar Weinberger presently unavailable).
  • Senate Committee on Armed Services
    • 28 September 2000 session on US policy toward Iraq. Witnesses: General Zinni, Richard Butler and Richard Perle
  • Staff Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate, "Chemical Weapons Use in Kurdistan: Iraq's Final Offensive" (October 1988). The report notes that the Reagan administration, although acknowledging Iraq's chemical attacks on Kurds, "has not followed up with action to deter such use" (p.viii of the report). The report is available in two parts: part 1 and part 2
• U.S. Diplomatic and Commercial Relationships with Iraq, 1980 - 2 August 1990, prepared by Nathaniel Hurd (15 July 2000).

The Government of France

• Summary of position on war, disarmament and inspections from 20 January 2003 meeting of the Security Council (23 January 2003).
• Proposals (21 June 2002) for Iraqi oil pricing, attempting to arrest the decline in Iraqi oil exports.
• The French draft resolution before the Security Council (19 June 2001). France has also drawn up a proposed set of procedures for the UN Secretariat. France produced an earlier proposal on 11 June 2001, including (i) a draft resolution; (ii) a set of procedures for the UN Secretariat; and (iii) a separate annex of "dual-use" goods.
• The statement of Mr Levitte, Representative of France at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.6-8 (26 June 2001): arguing for authorising foreign investment into Iraq.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
  • Recent statements on Iraq (and statements prior to April 2000). These include:
    • Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (18 June 2002): on Iraq's obligations and the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
    • Statements on Security Council Resolution 1409 (14 - 17 May 2002).
    • Statement on the proposals to modify the sanctions regime (7 May 2002).
    • Comments on the operation of the oil-for-food programme (11-18 January 2002).
    • Statement on the adoption of SCR1382 (30 November 2001).
    • Statement: "Our objectives vis-à-vis Iraq" (28 November 2001).
    • Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson on the latest British draft (27 November 2001), which became SCR1382.
    • Statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Iraq from 15 May - 4 September 2001: on the UK's draft Security Council resolution and the ensuing debate.
    • Statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Iraq from 16 February - 9 March 2001: on US/UK air strikes, supporting an end to sanctions, and calling for alterations in the procedures of the UN sanctions committee (specifically with regard to the block on importing vaccines).
    • Humanitarian flight to Iraq - Statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (3 October 2000).
    • On Unmovic - Statement by the Deputy Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson (24 August 2000).
    • Interview given by M. Hubert Védrine, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the daily newspaper "Al Hayat" (excerpts) Paris, 1 August 2000: "France considers that the sanctions imposed on Iraq for the past ten years have become cruel, ineffective and dangerous. Cruel because the punishment falls solely on the Iraqi people and the weakest among them; ineffective since they don't hit the regime, which isn't being given any incentive to cooperate; dangerous since, by fuelling resentment on the part of the "embargo generation", that generation of young people who have known only war and deprivation, they are aggravating the disintegration of Iraqi society."
    • Approval of Unmovic's plan for weapons control and verification - Statement made by the Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesman (Paris, April 14, 2000)
    • On UK and US bombing of Iraq - Statement made by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (Excerpts, 7 April 2000): "We deeply deplore [the bombings raids] ... [they] have no juridical foundation."
• Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations:
  • Latest statements on the Middle East (these reproduce the same text from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• Statement by France's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.18-20. France here is explaining its draft text that became Resolution 706, allowing Iraq to export limited quantities of oil to fund a humanitarian programme (the origins of the "oil for food" programme): "The text that has been adopted does not aim at establishing definitive rules. It was conceived as a response to an emergency situation for a period of six months."
• Statement by France's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.28-29: "France is gravely concerned about the plight of the civilian population.... The necessary goal of the restoration of lasting peace in the Gulf should not involve measures that are unnecessarily punitive or vindictive against the Iraqi people. It would be unjust if they were held responsible for the actions of their leaders."
• Statement by France's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.16-17: supporting Resolution 666.

The Government of Russia

• Summary of position on war, disarmament and inspections from 20 January 2003 meeting of the Security Council (23 January 2003).
• CASI obtained two very different sanctions proposals from Russia to the Security Council:
  • Draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council of 26 June 2001
  • Draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council of 22 May 2001
• The Russian text is explained and defended in the statement by Sergei Lavrov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation at the UN, at the Security Council on 26 June 2001. See also the further statement of 27 June 2001 by Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman Of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs which explains the need for an alternative to US/UK proposals for "smart sanctions".
• Russian President Vladimir Putin's Message to the Participants of the Conference of the Arab Heads of State and Government in Amman, Jordan (28 March 2001): proposing a compromise formula for the suspension of sanctions. The Iraqi cabinet welcomed this proposal, according to press reports.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Factsheet On The Patrolling By U.S. And British Warplanes Of The "No-Fly Zones" In Iraq (7 March 2001).
  • Concerning the New Bombardment of Iraqi Territory by U.S. Warplanes, press release (23 February 2001).
  • Reply by Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to a Question about Iraq (23 January 2001) - includes comments on sanctions.
  • Bombing of Iraqi Territory by US and UK Air Force Are Unlawful, press release (9 January 2001).
  • A "solution to the humanitarian crisis problem with a continuing economic sanctions regime is impossible", press release (13 December 2000; similarly on 6 December 2000).
  • Transcript of Press Conference with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on the Results of His Visit to Iraq (14 November 2000), calling for steps to lift sanctions and an end to the "no fly zones".
  • Comments on the Humanitarian Situation in Iraq, press release (5 October 2000).
• Statement by the Soviet Union's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.24-25.
• Statement by the Soviet Union's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.31-33: "The resolution, we believe, properly reflects the need for a solution to be found to Kuwait's and Iraq's humanitarian problems. Its adoption will make it possible immediately to proceed to supply foodstuffs and medicine, as well as goods and materials intended to meet the fundamental needs of the civilian population. This is of vital importance to the people of Iraq, which is on the brink of starvation and an epidemiological catastrophe."
• Statement by the Soviet Union's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.24-25: "the basic fact that the primordial reason for all those problems is the continuing occupation and annexation of the State of Kuwait by Iraq .... The adoption of sanctions was a natural and necessary reaction to an act of aggression".

The Government of China

• President Jiang Zemin:
  • Statement on visit to Tehran (20 April 2002): "the issues left over by the Gulf war, including the sanctions against Iraq, have long been left unsolved and greatly affected the security and development of this region".
  • President Jiang Zemin Meets Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz (28 November 2000): Jiang "expressed sympathy over the sufferings of the Iraqi people caused by the long-standing sanctions imposed on them".
• Summary of position on war, disarmament and inspections from 20 January 2003 meeting of the Security Council (23 January 2003).
• The statement of Mr Wang Yingfan, Representative of China at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.10-11 (26 June 2001): "The 11-year-old sanctions have brought dire suffering to the Iraqi people. In particular they have penalized large numbers of innocent women and children .... there is a need to clearly define the criteria for terminating the sanctions against Iraq."
• Permanent Mission of China to the UN.
  • Brief summary of China's position on Iraq, the sanctions and the "no-fly zones".
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (English / Chinese). Recent statements on Iraq are listed here.
  • China's summary of its present relations with Iraq.
  • Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao on US policy towards Iraq (18 June 2002).
  • Vice-Premier Qian Qichen Met with UNMOVIC Chairman (25 April 2002): "Iraq issue should be resolved by diplomatic and political means".
  • Vice Premier Qian Qichen Holds Talks with Visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz (28 January 2002): "Qian said that China ... has sympathized deeply with the Iraqi people’s sufferings caused by the long-standing sanctions". A similar statement from the same day by Premier Zhu Rongji is here.
  • Spokesperson on US and British bombing of Iraq and the "no-fly zones" (11 September 2001).
  • Spokesperson on US and British warplanes' bombing on Iraqi targets (19 February 2001).
  • Spokesperson on the tenth anniversary of the Gulf War (18 January 2001)
  • Chinese State Councilor Ismail Amat Visited Iraq (25 December 2000): "The sanctions have brought sufferings to the Iraqi people and severely blocked economic development".
  • Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan Holds Talks with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz (27 November 2000): the Foreign Minister says China is striving to remove sanctions. See also the news article from the following day on the Chinese news site, Muzi.com.
• Statement by China's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, p.21: "The ever-deteriorating situation faced by the Iraqi people has for some time been a question of deep concern to the international community, including China. Sound recommendations were made in the report submitted by His Excellency Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, Executive Delegate of the Secretary-General, but regrettably the Security Council has taken no action on those recommendations."
• Statement by China's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.29-31: "the resolution includes some unnecessary restrictions on the lifting of economic sanctions against Iraq. The Iraqi people are innocent. The Security Council should, in light of the development of the situation, ease and lift economic sanctions as soon as possible, so as to bring the economy of all the countries in the region back to normality at an early date."
• Statement by China's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.2-3, 13-14: supporting Resolution 666, with reservations.

The Government of Australia

• The statement of Ms. Wensley, Representative of Australia at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.5-6 (28 June 2001): "Australia welcomes the constructive proposals put forward in the United Kingdom draft resolution".

The Government of Austria

• Statement by Austria's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.23-24.
• Statement by Austria's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.38-39.

The Government of Bahrain

• The statement of Mr. Buallay, Representative of Bahrain at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.6-7 (28 June 2001): "the Security Council must be prepared to lift the embargo against Iraq when the main dossiers on weapons of mass destruction are closed and when the issue of Kuwaiti prisoners of war, prisoners of other nationalities and Kuwaiti properties are resolved".

The Government of Bangladesh

• The statement of Mr. Chowdhury, Representative of Bangladesh at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.23-24 (26 June 2001): "The strict control on Iraq's imports and exports has resulted in a steady decline in the living conditions of the Iraqi people.... Security Council resolution 1284 (1999)...is deficient in not indicating clearly a pathway towards the suspension and final lifting of the sanctions... If the Council fails to get the political perspective right, no procedural simplification is likely to bring the desired result".

The Government of Belgium

• Statement by Belgium's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.25-26.
• Statement by Belgium's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.42-43: "Belgium welcomed the policy of extending a hand to the Iraqi population constituted by the provisional lifting of the food embargo by the Committee on sanctions. We can only express our pleasure that the embargo will soon be repealed once and for all."

The Government of Canada

• The statement of Mr. Heinbecker, Representative of Canada at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.13-14 (28 June 2001): supporting the UK draft resolution.
• UN Security Council Establishes Sanctions Working Group; Canadian-Sponsored Sanctions Study Unveiled, press release (17 April 2000).
• Canada Announces Humanitarian Assistance For Iraq, press release (17 April 2000).
• Defence Minister renews Canada's contribution to the Arabian Gulf, press release (12 April 2000).
• The Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Fifth Report - on the sanctions on Iraq (12 April 2000).
• Statement by Canada's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.17-18: supporting the export of food to Iraq only under the condition that its distribution be monitored by humanitarian agencies.
• The Canadian Network to End Sanctions on Iraq also has a list of excerpts from policy statements by Canadian officials on sanctions.

The Government of Colombia

• The statement of Mr. Valdivieso, Representative of Colombia at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.15-16 (26 June 2001): "it is important for the Government of Iraq to have a clear understanding of what the international community expects from it, including guarantees for regional security, before sanctions are lifted".
• Statement by the Colombia's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, p.23.

The Government of Congo (Democratic Republic; formerly Zaire)

• Statement by Zaire's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.15-16.
• Statement by Zaire's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.14-15: stating that sanctions will end when Iraq withdraws from Kuwait.

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire

• Statement by the Côte d'Ivoire's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, p.24.
• Statement by the Côte d'Ivoire's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.22-23.

The Government of Cuba

• Statement by Cuba's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.15-17: "In the opinion of my delegation, the Council should have acted a long time ago in order to put an end completely to the economic sanctions, which cease to be justified at a time when the reasons which had justified them - which are set forth in Security Council resolution 661 (1990) - have been taken care of."
• Statement by Cuba's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.17-21: "The Council has persistently ignored the fact that the economic sanctions were established in order to ensure compliance with one paragraph of resolution 660 (1990), which called for the unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops from the territory of Kuwait.....The Council tries to ignore the fact that the continuation of those sanctions, imposed rightly or wrongly, is doing great harm to the people of Iraq."
• Statement by Cuba's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.6-11: "We do not believe that anyone has the political, juridical or moral authority to apply any inhuman measures such as those whose sole and exclusive victims would be innocent civilians. And that is what we are now concerned with here. .... This indeed may be the point of no return."

The Government of Ecuador

• Statement by Ecuador's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, p.29: "The measures contained in resolution 706 (1991) will no doubt contribute to the purpose of relieving suffering and meeting the essential needs of the civilian population of Iraq. Ecuador, however, ... considers that supervision and monitoring by the United Nations should not lead the Organization to engage in actions at variance with permanent respect for the principles of the Charter".
• Statement by Ecuador's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.33-35: "Ecuador considers that the Council must also approve the lifting of the sanctions, which are affecting the civilian population of Iraq." Ecuador abstained in the vote on Resolution 687.

The Government of Egypt

• President Hosni Mubarak:
  • President Hosni Mubarak's press conference with US Vice-President Cheney (13 March 2002): comments on the role of international inspectors in Iraq, two-thirds of the way through the transcript.
  • Remarks by President Hosni Mubarak on US policy towards Iraq (1 April 2001): midway through this transcript by the Egyptian State Information Service.
  • Statement by President Hosni Mubarak on Iraq to al-Ahram newspaper (1 January 1999).
  • Interview with President Hosni Mubarak on CNN (20 November 1997): "easing the suffering of Iraqi people, under UN economic sanctions, comes at the forefront of Egypt’s priorities".
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Statement by Foreign Minister Amre Moussa on Iraq (19 March 2001).
  • Joint news conference between Foreign Minister Amre Moussa and US Secretary of State Colin Powell (Cairo, 24 February 2001).
  • Air strikes against Iraq unjustified (19 February 2001), according to Foreign Minister Amre Moussa.
  • Air raids against Iraq serious negative step (Algiers, 17 February 2001), according to Foreign Minister Amre Moussa.
  • Egypt Deplores Air Strikes against Iraq: Foreign Minister Moussa Underlines They are Unjustified, Defying Legitimacy (Rome, 18 February 2001).
  • The Situation in the Gulf: Foreign Minister Moussa Calls for Reassessment (Davos, 27 January 2001): notes widespread Arab popular opposition to sanctions.
  • Sanctions on Iraq Going to the Outer Limits Should Come to an End (Cairo, 30 September 2000): in a strongly worded statement, Foreign Minister Amre Moussa says that the situation induced by sanctions is "deplorable".
  • Egypt pursues diligent efforts on the Iraqi issue to get sanctions lifted (Cairo, 21 September 2000).
  • Interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs Amre Moussa. Al-Hayat Newspaper (15 September 2000 in Arabic only).
  • Continued Sanctions on Iraq, Unacceptable, Void of Logic for Arabs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Amre Moussa Reiterated, press release (28 July 2000).

The Government of Ethiopia

• Statement by Ethiopia's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.15-16: sanctions supported on the basis of accomplishing the objectives of Resolution 660 (ie. Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait).

The Government of Finland

• Statement by Finland's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 13 September 1990, pp.20-21: "the resolution just adopted - resolution 666 (1990) - establishes practical ways and means to prevent human suffering."

The Government of Germany

• Federal Foreign Office
  • Federal Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer welcomes UN's new targeted sanctions regime for Iraq (15 May 2002).
  • Speech by Federal Foreign Minister Fischer on "the USA/Iraq problem complex" (22 February 2002).
  • Federal Minister Fischer welcomes the decision of the UN Security Council to extend the "oil-for-food" programme for Iraq (30 November 2001).
• The statement of Mr. Fischer (Foreign Minister) to the UN Security Council, pp.5-6 (20 January 2003):

  "We are greatly concerned that a military strike against the regime in Baghdad would involve considerable and unpredictable risks for the global fight against terrorism. ... in addition to disastrous consequences for long-term regional stability, we also fear possible negative repercussions for the joint fight against terrorism. These are fundamental reasons for our rejection of military action."

  Also see summary on CASI discussion list.
• The statement of Mr. Kastrup, Representative of Germany at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.8-9 (28 June 2001): "it remains the responsibility of the Government of Iraq alone to improve the situation of its population".

The Government of the Holy See - the Vatican

• Comments by Pope John Paul II (28 April 2001): "As the embargo in your country continues to claim victims, I renew my appeal to the international community that innocent people should not be made to pay the consequences of a destructive war whose effects are still being felt by those who are weakest and most vulnerable."
• Speech by Pope John Paul II (18 March 2000): "all the Iraqi people who are being so severely tried by the continuing international embargo, never cease to be present in my thoughts. I assure all those who are suffering, especially the women, children and elderly, of my prayerful support."
• Speech by Pope John Paul II (10 January 1998): "an entire people is the victim of a constraint which puts it in hazardous conditions of survival. I refer to our brothers and sisters in Iraq, living under a pitiless embargo [...]. The weak and the innocent cannot pay for mistakes for which they are not responsible."

The Government of India

• The statement of Mr. Pal, Representative of India at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.4-5 (28 June 2001): "We have repeatedly called for these sanctions to be lifted in tandem with Iraq's compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. ... We hope the Council will act urgently to end the long nightmare of the people of Iraq".
• Ministry of External Affairs
  • Foreign Relations - Iraq: "India has consistently advocated phased lifting of UN sanctions, in tandem with Iraqi compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions"
  • Summary of Press Briefing on Vice President of Iraq Mr. Taha Yassin Ramadhan's visit to India (29 November 2000).
  • Summary of Press Briefing on Vice President of Iraq Mr. Taha Yassin Ramadhan's visit to India (27 November 2000).
  • Statement made by Jaswant Singh, the External Affairs Minister, in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) (24 November 2000): "We have also repeatedly said that the sanctions imposed on Iraq are unjust, unwise and are detrimental to the large numbers of innocent Iraqi men, women and children."
  • Summary of Press Briefing on Minister of State Panja's visit to Iraq (26 September 2000).
  • Summary of Press Briefing on Minister of State Panja's visit to Iraq (20 September 2000).
• Statement by India's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.26-28: "India's view has always been that the Security Council has the obligation to redress the plight of the innocent, just as the international community, as a whole, has partially been doing. .... India has consistently and repeatedly advocated a generous and effective approach to tackling the humanitarian situation in Iraq. To our regret, our efforts did not receive the unanimous support of Council members."
• Statement by India's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.21-24: "Ever since the termination of the armed hostilities, my delegation has been preoccupied with lifting the embargo on the supply of humanitarian needs to the people of both Iraq and Kuwait. .... The least that the Council can and should do is formally to lift the sanctions against the supply of all the commodities listed in the Ahtisaari report... My delegation firmly believes that all non-military sanctions against Iraq should also be lifted as soon as Iraq conveys acceptance of the present draft resolution."

The Government of Indonesia

• "Indonesia Calls for Lifting of Sanctions on Iraq", report on speech by Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, as reported in People's Daily (China) on 13 August 2000; similar story reported by the Associated Press on 12 August 2000, reprinted here.

The Government of Iran

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: recent statements on Iraq are listed here.
  • Interview with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi (24 February 2001, in Egypt): "the time is ripe for a review of the economic sanctions against Iraq, and at the same time measures should be taken to check its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction".
  • Dr. Kharrazi Calls for Lifting of UN Sanctions on Iraq (11 November 2000).
  • Interview with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in al-Hayat (1 August 2000): "efforts should be made to bring the sanctions as well as the sufferings and deprivations of Iraqi people to an end".
• The Iranian Presidency:
  • Remarks by President Khatami after talks with Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan (30 September 2000): expressing concern over the impact of sanctions.
  • Remarks by President Khatami (13 March 1999): condemning military attacks on Iraq, but insisting on Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions.

The Government of Iraq

• The letter from the Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to the UN Secretary-General of 16 September 2002 (doc. no.S/2002/1034): "I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the Government of the Republic of Iraq to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions."
• The letter from Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to the United Nations Secretary-General of 15 August 2002 (doc. no. S/2002/939). This letter also includes a list of the questions put to the Security Council in March 2002, and which have not been fully answered as yet. A partial explanation of the lack of an answer is contained in this report on a statement by a representative of the US mission to the UN.
• The text of the 19 questions presented by Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to the UN Secretary-General on 7 March 2002, as released by the Iraqi News Agency on 10 July 2002. The version of these questions presented by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council is here.
• The statement of Mr. Al-Qaysi, Representative of Iraq at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.15-31 (28 June 2001): opposing the proposed new regime of sanctions as "a new facet of neo-colonialism".
• Iraqi Mission to the UN
  • Letter to the Secretary-General and President of the Security Council asked oil-for-food money to be donated to Palestine (27 November 2000).
• Ministry of Agriculture: Drought report (April 1999).
• The Iraqi Presidency
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Iraq and the UN: an index of recent statements on the sanctions regime.
  • The imposed sanctions (January 2000)
  • Legal flaws in the compensation regime (undated; 2000/01)
  • Statement on Security Council Resolution 1284 (undated; mid/late 2000).
• The Ministry of Health has frequent reports on the effects of sanctions.
  • The effect of the embargo on the health status in Iraq (1999).
• The Iraqi News Agency
• "Impact of the economic embargo on the economic, social and cultural situation in Iraq" (29 January 1996), a paper submitted by the Iraqi government to the UN Commission on Human Rights.
• Statement by Iraq's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 15 August 1991, pp.2-11: claims to have fulfilled all the conditions for the lifting of sanctions required by the Security Council.
• Report submitted by the Iraqi government to the United Nations Secretary-General, on Iraq’s economic situation (29 April 1991). It asks for a moratorium of "at least five years" before reparations required under section E of UNSCR 687 (1991) begin to be deducted from Iraq’s oil revenues.
• Statement by Iraq's representative at the UN in the Security Council on 3 April 1991, pp.7-11, 44-45: "If the Council insists on maintaining the blockade and the economic sanctions, Iraq and the international community in general, particularly the countries of the third world, will discover that the essence of the new world order is the order of United States sovereignty over the entire world and its international Organization, the imposition of the will of the United States on the international community, and the exploitation of the Security Council and the Charter of the United Nations as tools to lend legitimacy to the United States greed for plundering the economic resources of other countries and for imposing its hegemony over the world".

The Government of Ireland

• The statement of Mr. Ryan, Representative of Ireland at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.20-21 (26 June 2001): supporting the authorization for foreign investment into Iraq.
• Department of Foreign Affairs:
  • Red Cross to get IEP 100 000 for humanitarian relief in Iraq, press release (23 December 1998).
• Fine Gael (Ireland's second largest political party):
  • Ireland should demand review of UN sanctions against Iraq, press release (2 August 2000).

The Government of Israel

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
  • Rabin endorses continued sanctions against Iraq (14 August 1994): "We support the policy of President Clinton and the policy of sanctions against Iraq in order to change its behavior... we line up with the United States and the other developed nations to bring Iraq to change its policies."
• Permanent Mission to the United Nations:
  • Speech by Mr. Jeremy Issacharoff, Representative of Israel to the first Committee, head of Regional Security and Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jerusalem (13 October 2000): "The United Nations bears a critical responsibility to the countries of the Middle East to ensure that Iraq is disarmed of all its WMD and missile capabilities in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions."

The Government of Italy

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Statement on the Gulf States (updated in early-mid 2002): "Italy has also followed the developments in the Iraqi crisis closely and in particular, the humanitarian and social aspects to assess the consequences of the continued sanctions on the local population. The government continues to operate .. to ease the application of sanctions with a view to ending the embargo given their impact on the humanitarian situation in Iraq, which is deteriorating."
• The statement of Mr. Vento, Representative of Italy at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.9-10 (28 June 2001): "one cannot but feel the greatest compassion for the innocent civilian population of Iraq, where health conditions, especially those of women and children, remain critical and cry out for a prompt and appropriate response by the international community. ...Measures must be devised to stimulate the supply of commodities and services and to facilitate economic cooperation, including investment in civilian sectors".

The Government of Jamaica

• The statement of Miss Durrant, Representative of Jamaica at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.22-23 (26 June 2001): "Jamaica has consistently stated in the Council that sanctions regimes must be focused, effectively targeted and of limited duration. We have also emphasized that sanctions must be designed in such a way that the civilian population is not made to suffer for the intransigence of its leaders. For this reason, Jamaica supports the current efforts being undertaken in the Security Council to modify the sanctions regime so as to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people".

The Government of Japan

• Japan's Basic Position and Diplomatic Efforts Relating to the Iraq Issue from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (November 2002).
• The statement of Mr. Satoh, Representative of Japan at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.3-4 (28 June 2001): "We believe that there is a need to make adjustments to the current sanctions regime in order to alleviate their suffering, while retaining the objectives of the Council's resolutions. It is in this context that we fully support the ongoing efforts of the Council to modify the current sanctions regime..".
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of recent statements here.
  • Basic Position of Japan (March 1998).
  • Emergency Aid for Afflicted People in Iraq (February 1999).

The Government of Jordan

• The statement of Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Representative of Jordan at the UN, at the Security Council, pp.28-29 (26 June 2001): "Iraq continues to pay a hefty price as a consequence of the comprehensive sanctions imposed upon it that will have an impact on future generations of the Iraqi population in terms of their food, livelihood, health and prospects for economic growth and development. The result is an unprecedented case of civilian suffering. ... This type of collective punishment, the most severe in the history of the United Nations, did not achieve its declared purposes of consolidating peace and security. On the contrary, those sanctions created conditions that in the long run may endanger the future of the whole region. ...We believe that the only way out of the current crisis lies in the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iraq by the Council...".
• Statement from the Jordanian Parliament opposing the imposition of smart sanctions, 11 June 2001: article in ArabicNews.com of 13 June 2001
• "King Abdullah reiterates call for lifting sanctions on Iraq", partial translation of interview by Abdullah with al-Hayat newspaper of 11 April 2001
• King Abdullah's conference with the US National Press Club, Washington, 11 April 2001: gives his view of US policy shi