ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:97041602.NNE

DATE:04/16/97

TITLE:16-04-97  TEXT: UNSC APRIL 16 STATEMENT ON IRAQI HAJJ FLIGHT



TEXT:

(U.S. believes flight violated Security Council resolutions) (510)



United Nations -- The Security Council April 16 declared that Iraq did

not have the right to fly Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia without the

permission of the U.N. Sanctions Committee.



In a statement, read by Council President Pedro Catarino of Portugal

during a formal meeting, the council said that Iraq as well as all

other members of the United Nations are obligated to observe the

mandatory ban on Iraqi flights imposed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait

in 1990.



Speaking with journalists after the meeting, U.S. Ambassador Bill

Richardson said that "the United States still believes that the

unauthorized flight by Iraq was a violation of Security Council

resolutions.... We firmly believe that it is up to the Sanctions

Committee to determine what is permissible under the resolution and

not Iraq."



Welcoming the official statement, Richardson added that most of the

council members agreed with the U.S. that the flight violated the

council's resolution. He pointed out that the statement "is based on

the consensus of all members."



"This presidential statement suits our purposes and our policy. It

states a fundamental principle that it is up to the Sanctions

Committee" to approve flights, the ambassador said. "Iraq should abide

by the Security Council resolutions."



Richardson also emphasized that "my government and I have the utmost

respect for the right of all Muslims to participate in the hajj and we

want to make that statement in light of the holidays that will be

happening soon."



Following is the text of the council's statement:



(Begin text)



The Security Council has considered the case of an Iraqi aircraft

which flew from Baghdad, Iraq, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 9 April

1997 and then departed.



The Government of Iraq, in a letter dated 3 February 1997, had

requested clearance from the Committee established pursuant to

resolution 661 (1990) for the release of 50 million dollars from the

frozen Iraqi assets being held in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United

Arab Emirates to cover pilgrimage costs and requested the agreement of

the Committee for flights by Iraqi Airways to transport those pilgrims

to Jeddah, during the holy pilgrimage season.



The Committee answered in a letter dated 3 March 1997 that it would be

in a better position to consider the release of the frozen Iraqi funds

if a request was submitted by a country which was willing to release

such funds to meet the pilgrimage costs.



The Government of Iraq proceeded with this particular flight without

specific consultation with the Committee. Such consultation would have

allowed the Committee to consider the matter and to determine whether

the flight required Committee approval under the relevant resolutions.



The Security Council draws to the attention of Member States their

obligations under resolutions 661 (1990), 670 (1990) and other

relevant resolutions.



The Council underlines its respect for the obligation of Muslims to

perform the Hajj pilgrimage.



(End text)

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