Written question asked by John Stanley (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 November 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 November 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if it is his policy that UNSCOM has to certify that Iraq has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction before UN sanctions on Iraq can be lifted. - Inc ref to United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 687.

Answer: Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that UNSCOM has to certify that Iraq has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction before UN sanctions on Iraq can be lifted. [60278] Mr. Tony Lloyd: United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 687 of April 1991 obliges Iraq to accept the destruction of its weapons of mass destruction and to undertake not to develop such weapons in the future. The United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are the organisations tasked by the Security Council with overseeing these processes. Paragraph 22 of SCR 687 provides for the embargo on Iraqi exports to remain in force until the Security Council is satisfied that the requirements of SCR 687 have been fulfilled.

Secondary information