HC Deb 15 October 1990 vol 177 cc743-4W
Sir Trevor Skeet

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that sanctions against Iraq are not breached by the maintenance of air transport links.

Mr. Waldegrave

Security Council resolution 670, adopted on 25 September, is designed to ensure that the embargo against Iraq is not breached by means of air transport. The resolution confirms that Security Council resolution 661 applies to all means of transport, including aircraft; requires all States to deny take-off rights to any aircraft carrying cargo other than food in humanitarian circumstances or medical supplies; and requires all States to deny overflight rights to aircraft destined for Iraq or Kuwait unless such aircraft land for inspection, have been approved by the sanctions committee, or are carrying supplies intended for UN forces. A number of aircraft have already landed for inspection under the terms of the resolution.