Country:RepublicofIraq

Committee:UNSC
TopicA:UNSanctionsArmed,NuclearandEconomic
DelegateName:SarmadAli
OnAug.2,1990,inresponsetoIraq'sinvasionandannexationofKuwait,theUnitedNations
SecurityCouncilpassedResolution661,imposingcomprehensivemultilateralinternational
sanctionsonIraqandfreezingallitsforeignassets.Iraqwasnolongerfreetoimportanything
notexpresslypermittedbytheUnitedNations,andcompanieswereforbiddenfromdoing
businesswithIraq,withverylimitedexceptions.
Iraqremainedunderthesanctionsregimesfornearly13yearsfrom19902003,whichwere
putintoaffectafterGulfWar.UnderChapterVIIoftheCharter,theSecurityCouncilcan
take enforcement measures to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such
measuresrangefromeconomicand/orothersanctionsnotinvolvingtheuseofarmedforceto
internationalmilitaryaction.Butthesesanctionshaveunbearablecoststothetargetcountry.
In13yearsanctionregimetheIraqipeoplehavesufferedgreatly.Unemploymentsoaredupto
50%andpeoplesoldtheirbelongingstosurviveonaslowas$2month.Theforeignaidwas
notenoughtofeed22millionpeopletowhichIraqwasallowedtoexportoilunderOilfor
foodprogramin1996.
IraqhastheviewthatsanctionsarenotsolutionforallproblemsthatSecurityCouncilintends
to achieve by imposing it on target countries. Denis J. Halliday, the United Nations
humanitariancoordinatorinIraqsaidin1998:weareintheprocessofdestroyinganentire
society.Itisassimpleandterrifyingasthat.Sanctionshavetheirimplications,whichmust
besortedoutbeforeputtingitintoaffect.Generally,itistheatrocitiesofgovernmentsthat
compelotherstosanctionthembutitisthegeneralpopulationthatsuffersmostly.
Through this platform Iraq wants the Security Council and member states to review the
policiesastominimizethedamagecausedbysanctions.AsgovernmentofIraqbelievesthat
costsofsanctionsisgreaterthanthebenefitsofit.Iraqbelievesthatglobalcommunitywould
considerthismatterwithgreatattention,integrityandresponsibility.

Sources: https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/57jqap.htm#a1