UN Resolution on Iraq Calls for Compliance and Commitment by All, Say Quaker Organizations
C-02-106F
29 NOVEMBER 2002
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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 programs 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
OTHER
QUAKER STATEMENTS & LETTERS
Reviewed:
09/06/2005
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