UN Security Council Resolution 1441

On November 8, 2002, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1441. All fifteen members of the Security Council agreed to give Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its obligations and disarm or face the serious consequences of failing to disarm. The resolution strengthened the mandate of the UN Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), giving them authority to go anywhere, at any time and talk to anyone in order to verify Iraq’s disarmament.

The following are some of the main requirements of Security Council Resolution 1441:

• Iraq has been and remains in material breach of prior Security Council resolutions.

• The resolution gives Iraq a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations and establishes an enhanced inspections regime. Iraq is obliged to deliver within 30 days (December 8, 2002) a currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems.

• False statements or omissions in declarations required by the resolution and failure by Iraq to comply with and cooperate fully in the implementation of the resolution shall constitute a further material breach of Iraq’s obligations.

• The Council demanded that Iraq cooperate “immediately, unconditionally and actively with UNMOVIC and IAEA.”

• The Security Council recalled that it has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of obligations under Security Council resolutions.