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Instances of Iraqi "Material Breach" of Security Council Resolutions Released by the Bureau of Public Affairs January 8, 1999

1. Resolution 707 (August 15, 1991) passed following a blockage at the Abu Ghuraib site where UNSCOM and IAEA believed prohibited nuclear equipment was stored. Iraq eventually let the inspectors in, but only after an extended standoff during which equipment was removed.

2. UNSC Presidential Statement (February 19, 1992) said that Iraq's continued failure to respect UNSCRs 707 and 715 constituted a material breach. Iraq allowed inspections to continue under 707, but only agreed to accept 715--calling for monitoring--in November 1993.

3. UNSC Presidential Statement (February 28, 1992) repeated the previous statement and said also that refusal to commence destruction of ballistic missile equipment was a material breach; Iraq subsequently allowed the material to be destroyed.

4. UNSC Presidential Statement (July 6, 1992), issued in response to Iraq's blockage of inspections at the Iraqi agricultural ministry and resulting stand-off in a parking lot. Iraq finally allowed a team to enter the ministry on July 28.

5. UNSC Presidential Statement (January 8, 1993) termed Iraq's refusal to allow UNSCOM to fly fixed-wing aircraft a material breach of UNSCR 687.

6. UNSC Presidential Statement (January 11, 1993) reaffirmed the previous finding of "material breach" and added that Iraq's violations of the DMZ also constituted a "material breach" and warned of "serious consequences" if Iraq did not reverse its position. This led to P-3 air raids on Iraqi military sites on January 13, U.S. missile attacks on Iraqi industrial facilities (January 17), and US./U.K. air raids on radar sites (January 18). On January 19, Iraq agreed to the resumption of UNSCOM flights.

7. UNSC Presidential Statement (June 18, 1993) declared Iraq to be in "material breach" because of its refusal to allow the installation of monitoring devices by UNSCOM. The issue was eventually resolved by Iraq's acceptance of UNSCR 715 in November 1993.

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