Iraq (Hansard, 12 January 1998)

§ 4. Mr. Savidge
What the United Kingdom's contribution is to policing the no-fly zones in Iraq. [20199]

§ Mr. George Robertson
To monitor Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions the UK contributes 12 Tornado aircraft and up to three VC10 tankers to the coalition operations over the northern and southern no-fly zones in Iraq.

§ Mr. Savidge
I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. Does he share my hope that, by diplomatic means, we can ensure that Saddam Hussein fully complies with all relevant United Nations resolutions? Does he further agree that the recent crisis over the United Nations Special Commission inspections shows that diplomacy must sometimes be backed up by the credible threat of military force?

§ Mr. Robertson
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The crisis over Iraq's non-compliance with Security 6 Council resolutions, especially in relation to weapons of mass destruction, is certainly not over. That is why HMS Invincible, along with RAF aircrew and GR7 jets, is still in the Mediterranean and will be replaced by HMS Illustrious, which leaves Portsmouth next Monday.
I should like to take this opportunity to thank the crew of HMS Invincible, and the RAF crew embarked on it, for giving up their Christmas in the interests of ensuring that the menace to local and world security that Saddam represents is fairly and properly dealt with.

§ Mr. Wilshire
The great majority of people in the House and the country fully support the contribution made by British forces, but can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that that contribution will continue for as long as the threat continues?

§ Mr. Robertson
I can give that assurance. Few hon. Members and few people outside the House do not see Saddam Hussein as a menace and a threat to his neighbours and to the wider international community. The purpose of the UNSCOM inspectors in seeking compliance with UN Security Council resolutions is not simply in the interests of Iraq's close neighbours, because a country that has already used these dreadful instruments of war—chemical and biological weapons—and which continues to deceive and to hide its future capabilities cannot be trusted. Until Saddam Hussein has complied with the Security Council resolutions, we shall have to remain on alert while hoping for a diplomatic solution. However, we must have in reserve the option of military force.

§ Ann Clwyd
As the no-fly zone has unfortunately not been fully effective in protecting the Kurdish population of northern Iraq, given the recent invasion by both Turkish forces and those of Saddam Hussein, will my right hon. Friend consider, with the UN Security Council, the setting up of a no-drive zone so that the Kurdish population of northern Iraq can be protected against invasion by tanks and against heavy artillery?

§ Mr. Robertson
We act within the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions. Nobody regrets more than I do the fact that internal conflict between Kurdish groups in northern Iraq has been the source of problems for ordinary Kurdish people in that part of the world. The use of some bases in northern Iraq for terrorist incursions into Turkey has complicated the way in which, up to now, we have been able to protect the civilian population in those areas. These matters must be discussed and decided on by the United Nations. As and when they are, we shall—as we have already—make sure that United Nations authority is maintained by the assignment of forces such as those that we have deployed in that area for some time.