§ 7. Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has he made of Iraq's compliance with United Nations resolutions.[30901]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Douglas Hogg)Iraq has consistently failed to comply with its international obligations as set out in the relevant UN resolutions. We particularly look to Iraq to fulfil the requirements relating to weapons of mass destruction, to account for the Kuwaitis detained after the Gulf war and to respect the human rights of all Iraqis.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandI thank my right hon. and learned Friend for his reply. Does he agree that it is outrageous that four years after the ending of the Gulf war the Iraqis are still holding 625 missing Kuwaitis and prisoners of war? More than that, does he agree that the Iraqis are still prevaricating, weaving and dodging whenever there is an opportunity to try to get them to discuss this important issue? Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the Iraqis failed to turn up to a key meeting on the Kuwait border on 18 June? Will he ensure that the Government make strong representations on the matter when the coalition Governments supporting the Gulf states meet the Iraqis in Geneva on this issue?
§ Mr. HoggMy hon. Friend makes an important point which troubles us greatly. There are 609 files on missing Kuwaitis; 168 have been the subject of discussion and in 70 cases Iraq has prevented an intermediate result. I very much regret that the most recent planned meeting did not take place. The International Committee of the Red Cross has invited the parties to a tripartite commission meeting in Geneva. I very much hope that all the parties attend.
§ Mr. DalyellIs it not within the knowledge of the Foreign Office that Russian, French, German and Italian, not to mention Greek, business men are busy in Baghdad putting together contract after contract? Is it not a pity that as most of the Iraqi decision makers were educated at British universities, we are not rethinking this whole area of policy?
§ Mr. HoggI know that the hon. Gentleman, understandably, is deeply concerned about the plight of the Iraqis. But he will forgive me if I point out that under United Nations Security Council resolution 986, Saddam Hussein was given the opportunity to export oil to the value of $2 billion every 120 days, so long as he used the proceeds for humanitarian purposes—although the operation would have been subject to various constraints. He chose not to do so, and that is the primary reason why we see the privation in Iraq now.