United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 on Iraq, 8 November 2002 Press Release

United Nations Security Council

Recalls Repeated Warning of Serious Consequences for Continued Violations

Holding Iraq in material breach of its obligations under previous resolutions, the Security Council this morning decided to afford it a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations, while setting up an enhanced inspection regime for full and verified completion of the disarmament process established by resolution 687 (1991).

By the unanimous adoption of resolution 1441 (2002), the Council instructed the resumed inspections to begin within 45 days, and also decided it would convene immediately upon the receipt of any reports from inspection authorities that Iraq was interfering with their activities.  It recalled, in that context, that the Council had repeatedly warned Iraq that it would face "serious consequences" as a result of continued violations.

Under the new inspection regime established by the resolution, the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would have immediate, unimpeded, unconditional and unrestricted access to any sites and buildings in Iraq, including presidential sites.  They would also have the right to remove or destroy any weapons, or related items, they found.

The Council demanded that Iraq confirm, within seven days, its intention to comply fully with the resolution.  It further decided that, within 30 days, Iraq, in order to begin to comply with its obligations, should provide to UNMOVIC, the IAEA and the Council a complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, including chemical, biological and nuclear programmes it claims are for purposes not related to weapons production or material.  Any false statement or omission in the declaration will be considered a further material breach of Iraq’s obligations, and will be reported to the Council for assessment.

Following this morning’s vote, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the Security Council resolution adopted today had strengthened the cause of peace and given new impetus to the search of security in an increasingly dangerous world.  The adoption represented an example of multilateral diplomacy serving the cause of peace and security.  He urged the Iraqi leadership to seize the opportunity, and thereby begin to end the isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people.  If Iraq’s defiance continues, however, the Security Council must face its responsibilities, he said.

He said, This is a time of trial—for Iraq, for the United Nations and for the world.  The goal is to ensure the peaceful disarmament of Iraq in compliance with Council resolutions and a better, more secure future for its people.   How the crisis was resolved would affect greatly the course of peace and security in the coming years in the region, and the world, he said.

Also speaking after the vote, Council members said that their views had been taken into account in the final version of the draft, which was co-sponsored by the United States and the United Kingdom.  The representative of France welcomed the two-stage approach required by the resolution, saying that the concept of automaticity for the use of force had been eliminated.  The representatives of China and the Russian Federation stressed that only UNMOVIC and the IAEA had the authority to report violations by Iraq of the resolution’s requirements. 

The United Kingdom’s representative said the resolution made crystal clear that Iraq was being given a final opportunity.  The Iraqi regime now faced unequivocal choice:  between complete disarmament and the serious consequences indicated in the resolution. 

The representative of the United States noted that, while primary responsibility rested with the Council for the disarmament of Iraq, nothing in the resolution constrained any Member State from acting to defend itself against the threat posed by that country, or to enforce United Nations resolutions protecting world peace and security.

The representatives of Mexico, Ireland, Bulgaria, Syria, Norway, Singapore, Colombia, Cameroon, Guinea and Mauritius also spoke.

The meeting, which began at 10:15 a.m., adjourned at 11:40 a.m.