SINGAPORE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRESS RELEASE

The Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations, Mr Kishore Mahbubani spoke at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait on 11 March 2003 (New York). The text of the statement is attached.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
12 MARCH 2003

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON THE SITUATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND KUWAIT STATEMENT BY MR KISHORE MAHBUBANI PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, 11 MARCH 2003

Mr President

Today's meeting is both timely and critical. The UN Security Council is at a crucial decision point on Iraq. We all agree that the preference is for a peaceful solution to the issue of Iraq. We also agree that war must always be a "last resort". And of course all of us would like to see a second UNSC resolution passed.

But at the same time, we must not overlook certain fundamentals. The primary responsibility remains with the Government of Iraq, not the international community, to demonstrate compliance. It is imperative that Iraq disarm immediately and comply fully with all UNSC resolutions. During Singapore's term on the UNSC, we consistently took the position that the Iraqi authorities must comply with all UNSC resolutions.
This is based on the important point of principle that international law must be observed. Singapore voted in favour of Security Council resolution 1441 on 8 November 2002 in the expectation that international law and order would be preserved.

It is important to bear in mind that Resolution 1441 was not the Council's first resolution on this issue. Iraq has had a miserable record of complying with UNSC resolutions. In fact, Resolution 1441 was the UNSC's 17th resolution since Resolution 678 of 29 November 1990, which was designed to "restore international peace and security" in the area following Iraq's illegal invasion of Kuwait. Subsequently, the ceasefire terms adopted by the Council in Resolution 687 of April 1991, required Iraq
to end its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programmes, recognise Kuwait,
account for missing Kuwaitis and Third party nationals, return Kuwaiti property, and end support for international terrorism. Resolution 687 was designed as a comprehensive framework to restore peace and maintain the security of the region. Regrettably, Iraq has not complied with many of the terms of Resolution 687, even though almost 12 years have passed.

When we negotiated resolution 1441, our understanding was that Iraq was in material breach of its obligations and that this would be the "final opportunity for Iraq to comply or face "serious consequences". Resolution 1441 was specifically designed to discourage Iraq from reverting to its past patterns of non-cooperation and evasion.

It has become increasingly clear that Iraq only has a few more days to comply with Resolution 1441 or face serious consequences. We therefore hope that it will comply immediately, actively, fully and unconditionally with the UN weapons inspectors. As Dr Hans Blix said in his most recent report of 7 March 2003 to the Council, "[I]t is obvious that, while the numerous initiatives, which are now taken by the Iraqi side
with a view to resolving some long-standing open disarmament issues, can be seen as "active", or even "proactive", these initiatives 3-4 months into the new resolution cannot be said to constitute 'immediate' cooperation.

Nor do they necessarily cover all areas of relevance". Clearly, many unanswered questions remain to be addressed by the Iraqi authorities. The Financial Times today reported a suggestion Dr Mohamed ElBaradei made to the delegation of Arab foreign ministers travelling to Iraq that it urge dramatic action from Baghdad. We agree with his comments that "[W]hat is required is a dramatic change in spirit and sincerity", and that "[T]he Iraqi president [could] himself announce on television that he is prepared for complete cooperation and that he is giving directives to all Iraqi officials to cooperate completely and present all the documents they have, or even if they have weapons, to reveal them".

Mr President

It is our hope that the Security Council will act in a way that will preserve the unity achieved by 1441. A unified position will send a clear message to Iraq from the Council that continued defiance of its obligations will not be tolerated. It will also send the signal to the rest of the world that the development and proliferation of WMD pose a grave threat to international order that cannot be ignored. Indeed, the issue under discussion today is only one example in a broader problem of WMD
proliferation.

But even as we focus on these important questions, we must not lose sight of the human dimension of the Iraq issue. Singapore attaches great importance to improving the humanitarian situation of the people of Iraq. They have already suffered greatly as a result of the Government of Iraq's failure to comply with its disarmament obligations. Their suffering should not be prolonged. Once again, we urge the Government of Iraq to make the right decision.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore