Iraq: Human Rights (Hansard, 25 January 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, we will maintain pressure on Iraq to observe Security Council Resolution 688 and other resolutions and to cease repression of its civilian populations, including Kurds and Shia. We, the United States, France and Russia made a démarche to Iraq on 5th January protesting about Iraqi behaviour. The Security Council also took Iraq's failure to observe Resolution 688 into account when it decided on 18th January that there were no grounds to lift UN sanctions.

§ Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. However, is she aware that the Iraqi UN representative has begun a "charm offensive" on the other ambassadors in the United Nations in order to obtain the lifting of Resolution 688? Can my noble friend assure us that the Foreign Office has no intention of being charmed by that evil tyrant and will not allow that sanction to be moved until Saddam assures the safety of the Kurds in the north and the Shias and marsh Arabs in the south?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, like most women I have learnt to recognise the so-called "charm offensive" and not to be taken in by it, from whatever source it comes. But, more seriously, the only guarantee for the needy people of Iraq is for them to concentrate their efforts on the defeat of the dictator, Saddam.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, is it not a fact that Saddam Hussein gets away with blue murder? He ignores United Nations resolutions; he does exactly what he wants to do and we are given to understand that our Government can do nothing. Is that really the position? Can we not amalgamate with America, France and Russia to prepare our air forces so that we can say to Saddam Hussein, "If you do not do what you are told, you will get it"?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I should like to think that we could follow the advice of the noble Lord, Lord Mellish. I regret to say that the international community, which imposed severe sanctions and does 876 not intend to lift them, does not have a large number of options at its disposal. I was interested to read that the Iraqi National Congress managed to produce in Baghdad a newspaper under the name of Saddam's newspaper, Babil, which led the people of Baghdad to rejoice because they thought that some moves towards the overthrow might be beginning. I believe it is within Iraq that we must encourage the defeat of Saddam. Bombing of Iraq by allies will achieve nothing and harm many thousands of innocent people.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, as a woman, can the noble Baroness tell the House what was meant by her phrase, "maintaining pressure"?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we take every opportunity in the United Nations to bring Iraq to book for all the atrocities that it continues to commit. Much as I should like to see Saddam removed—as I am sure would the noble Baroness and all other Members of your Lordships' House—from his position as dictator in Iraq only the Iraqi people can do that. I do not believe that we have the capacity to go further than the United Nations is already prepared to go; that is, to operate sanctions against Iraq.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, while I entirely agree with the noble Baroness that the overthrow of the dictator must be accomplished by the Iraqi people themselves, what specific measures have the Government taken to help the Iraqi National Congress and other democratic forces in Iraq?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, specific measures have been taken to help the Iraqi National Congress with its "Operation Provide Comfort" for the Kurdish people in the north. We maintain good contacts and links with them. We talk to and advise them when they ask for it, but we do not have a right to interfere. That is one of the problems that from time to time commentators in this country lose sight of. However, we shall continue to help the Iraqi National Congress to achieve democracy, which is what its members want.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, has any money been given to them?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
Yes, my Lords. But I do not have the figures to hand.

§ Baroness Park of Monmouth
My Lords, can my noble friend say what objection there could be to a decision by the United Nations to apply some of Iraq's sequestered assets to the building of a power station in what is, after all, northern Iraq?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I do not see that there could be any objection, but the Iraqis have not helped their own population, which they are perfectly free to do, because they have failed to implement Security Council Resolutions 706 and 712, which permit Iraq to export the oil. There are many other ways in which the Iraqis could help their own people but they have failed to do so and now they are not even continuing negotiations on that possible implementation.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, are the Government worried by the developments in Russia which seem to indicate that the extreme nationalists and the communists are seeking to sway the Russian Government to back off from their support for the United Nations resolutions?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I have indeed heard similar accusations but I do not know the veracity of them. I do not think that they are widespread among those in charge of Russia's overseas affairs but I shall certainly look into what the noble Lord said because I share his concern.

§ Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare
My Lords, although the Minister does not have the latest figures for aid I thank her for the fact that Britain has a larger aid programme for that part of the world than any other part of Europe.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, it is only the figures for the Iraqi National Congress that I do not have to hand. I am grateful for what my noble friend has done and for his efforts with the Kurdish people in northern Iraq and for Miss Nicholson's efforts with the Shias in southern Iraq.