§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they expect the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) or the new inspecting body to show conclusively that there are weapons of mass destruction remaining in Iraq, or whether their continuing inability to prove a negative will result in sanctions on Iraq never being lifted. [HL809]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernhan DeanIn order for sanctions to be lifted, Iraq must comply fully with relevant security resolutions. To date, UNSCOM has been unable to report compliance because Iraq has chosen to pursue a policy of concealment, deceit and obstruction. We welcome the progress made by the UN Secretary General in Baghdad, whose Memorandum of Understanding, since endorsed by Security Council Resolution 1154, secured an unambiguous commitment from Iraq to allow immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites, personnel and documents which UNSCOM believes to he connected with Iraq's proscribed weapons programmes. If Iraq finally honours its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions, we would see no barrier to the lifting of sanctions.