§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps(a) have been taken since 1991–92 and (b) are being taken to ensure the compliance of Iraq with Paragraph 30 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687; and if he will make a statement. [74665]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienA Tripartite Commission was set up under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross to establish the whereabouts of Kuwaiti and other nationals still missing since the occupation of Kuwait. So far, the Iraqis have provided information sufficient to close only three files. 605 Kuwaiti and other nationals are still unaccounted for. Since January 1999 Iraq has refused to attend Tripartite Commission meetings, and has thereby effectively obstructed progress. The UK, along with other members of the Tripartite Commission, continue to meet regularly. Despite our and others' efforts to convince Iraq of the humanitarian nature of this issue, Iraq still refuses to cooperate with the process.