Mr President,
The mandate of the United Nations Special
Commission was given by the Security Council in order to ensure that Iraq's weapons of
mass-destruction are eliminated so as to safeguard peace and security. Iraq must cooperate
fully with the Special Commission. The Security Council has determined that Iraq must
allow the Special Commission immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access in Iraq.
Iraq has flagrantly and repeatedly
violated its obligations under relevant resolutions. Such violations are unacceptable and
warrant at firm response by the Security Council. The draft resolution in front of us is a
firm and adequate response. The measures will target only those individuals preventing
UNSCOM from access to sites it wishes to inspect or from conducting interviews in order to
fulfil its task. Innocent Iraqi civilians will not be affected.
Full cooperation with the Special
Commission and implementation of the relevant resolutions is the only way forward in order
for the sanctions to be lifted. The Government of Iraq carries a heavy responsibility
towards its own population, if it continues to defy and further delay the completion of
the mandate of the Special Commission.
Sweden supports the draft resolution in
front of us. Its unanimous adoption by the Security Council will send a message which
should be clearly understood by the Government of Iraq.
Permanent
Mission of Sweden to the United Nations