Iraq (Hansard, 10 July 2001)

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Government of the Russian Federation concerning Her Majesty's Government's recent proposals to the Security Council of the United Nations on Smart sanctions on Iraq. [2707]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
On 1 June 2001 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1352, confirming its agreement to the principles which we and the US had proposed to change the sanctions regime against Iraq. Later this month, however, Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov sent a message to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which he made it clear that the Russian Federation would not allow the adoption of our draft resolution detailing those new arrangements. There have also been regular discussions at official level both in New York and elsewhere in recent months. We will continue to try to resolve outstanding issues with the Council members in the hope of introducing our new approach as soon as possible.

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the recent proposals by Her Majesty's Government to the Security Council of the United Nations concerning Smart sanctions on Iraq. [2733]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
I have placed in the Library copies of the intervention made by our Permanent Representative to the United Nations during the formal Security Council debate on Iraq on 26 and 28 June and his Explanation of Vote during consideration of the oil for food rollover resolution on 3 July. These set out the proposals we have put forward for changes to the UN sanctions regime against Iraq.

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the United Nations Security Council to delay a decision on sanctions against Iraq for another five months. [2671]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
On 1 June 2001 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1352, confirming its agreement to the principles which we and the US had proposed to change UN controls on Iraq. The Council set itself 30 days to agree the details of arrangements to improve the flow of civilian goods to the Iraqi people while maintaining controls on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Despite widespread international support for these proposals the Council was unable to agree the details within that time scale. While we regret that we were unable to introduce the new system as early as we had wished, we remain serious about addressing the Iraqi people's needs and controls on Iraq's weapons. Work will therefore continue in New York to resolve the outstanding issues as soon as possible.