FOR
PUBLIC RELEASE - 29
NOVEMBER 2002
UN
RESOLUTION ON IRAQ CALLS FOR COMPLIANCE AND COMMITMENT BY ALL, SAY
QUAKER ORGANIZATIONS
For
350 years, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has witnessed
against all war under any circumstance and provided aid to victims
of war without discrimination. As Quaker service agencies and religious
bodies, we have undertaken a range of activities related to Iraq
including humanitarian assistance, research and policy work, enhancement
of diplomatic activity, and advocacy at national and multinational
levels since 1990.
On
8 November 2002, the Security Council (SC) of the United Nations
(UN) unanimously passed Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1441,
which addresses the resumption of weapons inspections and the disarmament
of Iraq. We believe that this unanimous action by the SC requires
compliance and commitment by all Member States, not just the government
of Iraq, and that the use of force against Iraq is clearly a last
resort, only to be considered and undertaken through further consultation
at the SC. Recent statements and actions by the United States that
Iraq is in "material breach" of the SCR 1441 through retaliatory
action to US and UK bombings in the "no-fly zones" in Iraq only
fuels conflict and endangers the vital opportunity for peace that
the SCR 1441 seeks to secure and to which the US committed itself
as a permanent member of the Security Council.
Since
the events of 11 September 2001, we have been deeply concerned that
member states should remain fully committed to the multilateral
approach to resolving conflict and realizing justice and peace in
the world. Threats of war against Iraq as a means of compliance
with UN resolutions and "regime change", advanced by the United
States, have heightened this concern. Quakers are steadfastly against
the threat or use of war or military intervention as a means to
resolve any conflict or bring about change. In this light, we commend
the United Nations and the Security Council for their efforts to
find a resolution that would address the genuine concerns at hand
concerning Iraq, to seek a peaceful solution, and to contain the
threat of unilateral action by states' governments.
SCR
1441 sets out three key goals:
1.
Iraqi disarmament, not regime change: The UN Monitoring, Verification,
and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), which are charged with undertaking the inspections,
must undertake realistic and competent inspections. The Iraqi Government
must, finally, comply with resolutions regarding disarmament or
face the undefined "serious consequences" noted in SCR 1441(paragraph
13). Nowhere in the Resolution is there support for "regime change".
Indeed, "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, Kuwait
and neighbouring states" is a stated commitment for all Member States
of the UN (preamble paragraph 15). This is an important policy shift
by the United States, which requires recognition.
2.
Force is an option of last resort: The use of force must be
a last resort and many Member States of the UN have articulated
this, along with public opinion worldwide. SCR 1441 may be the
last opportunity for the world community to prevent war and, thus,
we must work alongside each other to ensure that compliance is achieved
and sincere good will to comply is recognized and supported if time
lines and conditions set out in the Resolution prove unachievable.
3.
Recommitment to multilateral dialogue and action through the Security
Council. Contrary to expectations, the United States engaged
in a lengthy and intense multilateral negotiation on Iraq.
This has served, in the immediate situation, to reaffirm the SC
as the sole body with the authority to legitimize war against
a Member State. SCR 1441 sets out that the SC will:
A.
Receive the inspection reports
B.
Assess and debate them
C.
Take appropriate action (with most members insisting on "proportionality"
in the "consequences" approved).
By
supporting SCR 1441, the US has obliged itself to work within the
SC in resolving the extant concerns regarding Iraq. This is a positive
development in US policy and action that requires recognition and
accountability. The US must act honourably and not exploit potential
"hidden triggers" in the Resolution or take unauthorized, unilateral
action against Iraq.
SCR
1441 lays out clear and determined expectations of Iraq regarding
compliance with previous resolutions by the Security Council, along
with expanded powers and criteria with regards to the weapons inspections.
We are concerned that the expanded expectations may be difficult
to comply with. A specific example is the 30-day deadline (paragraph
3 of resolution) that requires the government of Iraq to provide
to UNMOVIC, IAEA and the Security Council a declaration of all programmes
to develop a wide range of weapons as well as locations of facilities,
stocks of agents, etc. In looking towards the 8 December 2002 deadline,
we hope that, if Iraq is demonstrating good faith in compiling with
the requested declaration, that the SC will provide extended time
in order for Iraq to fully comply.
We
are concerned that this clause, among others, could be used to "trigger"
military intervention as a solution to the compliance issue. If
the exact terms of the SCR 1441 can be interpreted as unattainable,
regardless of Iraqi efforts and intent, then there is the risk that
the issue of non-compliance could be raised by a Member State at
the Security Council table with a request to proceed with a military
intervention in order to enforce compliance.
While
the existence of such "triggers" is a present danger in the interpretation
of SCR 1441, we ask, and expect, all members of the Security Council
to work within the spirit of SCR 1441 to seek a peaceful, multilateral
solution. The long and difficult negotiations of SCR 1441 required
compromise on all sides. The unanimous vote simultaneously brings
pressure to bear both on the government of Iraq to comply with the
inspections and on all Member States to comply with the diplomatic
process outlined.
As
a result, we believe that war with Iraq is not inevitable. An agreed
upon process has been approved by the SC, its Member States, and
Iraq. This said, compliance by Iraq to the directive to disarm is
an absolute necessity if war is to be prevented. In turn, Member
States of the UN are bound to abide in good faith by the commitments
made in SCR 1441 to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Iraq and the process outlined.
The
humanitarian costs of war are enormous and, under the UN Charter,
Member States are committed to pursuing peaceful solutions to prevent
the scourge of war. We urge continued dialogue and cooperation
amongst all concerned parties as this process unfolds.
Signatories:
David
C. Atwood
Representative, Disarmament and Peace
Quaker United Nations Office
Geneva, Switzerland
Margaret
Clare Ford
Clerk
Canadian Friends Service Committee
Toronto,
Canada
Mary
E. Lord
Director,
Peace Building Unit
American Friends Service Committee
Philadelphia,
United States of America
Jack
Patterson
Representative
Quaker United Nations Office - New
York
New York City, United States of America
Jeremy
Routledge
Director
Quaker
Peace Centre
Cape Town, South Africa
Joe
Volk
Executive
Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Washington,
DC, United States of America
Martina
Weitsch and Elizabeth Scurfield
Joint
Representatives/Head of Office
Quaker
Council for European Affairs
Brussels,
Belgium
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