§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they believe it would be in accordance with (a) current agreements with Saudi Arabia, (b) the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council so far, and (c) international law, for the United States and/or the United Kingdom to launch offensive operations against Iraq from international waters in the Gulf and what breadth of relevant territorial seas in the Gulf is recognised (1) by the United Kingdom, and (2) by the United States of America.
The Earl of CaithnessParagraph 2 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 of 29th November 1990, which authorises the use of force against Iraq for the purpose of securing compliance with the earlier resolutions of the council, draws no distinction between military operations launched from the high seas or elsewhere.
In accordance with Articles 2(5), 24 and 25 of the United Nations Charter, paragraph 3 of Resolution 678 contains a request to all states to provide appropriate support for the actions undertaken in pursuit of paragraph 2.
We recognise the right of all states to territorial seas of up to 12 miles in breadth. Of the Gulf States, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar have 12-mile territorial seas. Qatar has enacted three miles, as have the majority of the United Arab Emirates except for Fujairah and Sharjah, which have 12.