The Background of Situations in Iraq

March, 1998

There are strong suspicions that Iraq has secretly developed and has been hiding weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological and chemical), and missiles to deliver them. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of Iraq would pose a threat to the peace and security of the Gulf region and the world.
It is a grave concern of the whole international community.

Inspections by the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) are aimed at verifying the process of eliminating weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and assuring that the country will not possess them again. Unconditional destruction of weapons of mass destruction and accepting unconditional U.N. inspections are obligations for Iraq, as stated in U.N. Security Council resolutions in the course of the Gulf War triggered by Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Iraq accepted the resolution. Since June 1997, however, Iraq has been repeatedly contravening U.N. Security Council resolutions by refusing to cooperate with and obstructing the inspections by UNSCOM.

Iraq's defiance to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions is a threat to international peace and security and challenges head-on the authority of the United Nations, the universal international organization.

Recent development and the current situation concerning Iraq