HC Deb 18 November 1992 vol 214 c214W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iraq has been complying with United Nations resolution 688; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The imposition of "no-fly zones" and patrols by coalition aircraft have helped to deter attacks by Iraqi forces on Iraqi civilians in both northern and southern Iraq. But the Iraqi regime continues to maintain an economic blockade of northern Iraq and we remain concerned about reports of military action by Iraqi ground forces in the marshes of southern Iraq.

Iraq refuses to implement Security Council resolutions 706 and 712 which provide for limited exports of Iraqi oil to pay for humanitarian operations. On 22 October Iraq and the United Nations signed a memorandum of understanding which provides for a programme of humanitarian relief and the deployment of United Nations guards in Iraq until 31 March 1993. We look to the Iraqi Government to allow the United Nations and relief agencies to operate throughout Iraq.