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Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (27 March-23 September 1997)

I. INTRODUCTION

1.       The present report gives an account of developments and activities in respect of the mandate entrusted to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), in accordance with Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) of 8 April 1991, 689 (1991) of 14 June 1991 and 806 (1993) of 5 February 1993. It covers the period from 27 March 1997 to 23 September 1997.

II.  DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE

2.       During the period under review, the situation in the demilitarized zone was generally calm. Constant patrolling by UNIKOM, frequent liaison meetings held at various levels and firm measures taken by the host authorities have helped to reduce incursions, which were frequent in the waterway between April and June. Complaints launched by the parties about cross-border shootings, as well as press reports on border infiltrations, could not be confirmed by UNIKOM investigations.

3.       No serious incidents were observed during the reporting period. UNIKOM recorded 22 minor incidents, 8 of which occurred on the Kuwaiti side and 14 on the Iraqi side, including minor cases of stone-throwing by Iraqi children at UNIKOM patrols. No injuries were sustained and damage to property was usually slight.

4.       Following reports by the press in Kuwait that Iraq had been sending troop reinforcements to southern provinces near the borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia since 2 August, UNIKOM stepped up its vigilance in the northern portion of the demilitarized zone. However the military observers, who continuously patrolled and monitored the area, could not confirm the reports and did not notice any unusual movements in the vicinity of the demilitarized zone. Later in the month the press, quoting international intelligence sources, reported that no major movement of Iraqi troops had been observed near the Iraqi border with Kuwait.

5.       There was a decrease in the number of violations in the demilitarized zone since the last report. During the period under review, UNIKOM recorded 87 violations, slightly more than half of the previous 161. Of those, 49 were air violations, 11 of which were overflights by F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-18 military aircraft. Such aircraft are used by the coalition forces, but the nationalities could not be confirmed. The remaining air violations related to aircraft flying too high to be identified. Twenty-six violations occurred in the Khawr Abd Allah waterway. All waterway violations were committed by Iraqi fishing boats that intruded into Kuwaiti waters, usually while fishing west of Warbah Island. Twelve were ground violations, five of which were sightings of personnel with rifles, two on the Iraqi side and three on the Kuwaiti side. One was an observation of four Iraqis in military uniform who turned out to be Iraqi police. The remaining six violations were tracer sightings on the Iraqi side of the demilitarized zone. Most of those firings appeared to be part of hunting activities or celebrations.

6.       Thirty-five complaints were recorded during the period under review, showing an increase of 12 cases over the previous report (S/1997/255). Of those, 27 came from Kuwait and eight from Iraq. Fifteen of the complaints were lodged by Kuwait about Iraqi fishing boats seen in the Kuwaiti part of the waterway west of Warbah Island. One complaint by Iraq regarding local liaison was eventually resolved. The rest, as already stated, could not be confirmed by UNIKOM investigations.

7.       Activities in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr increased significantly owing to shipments arriving under the terms of Security Council resolution 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995. Eighty-two ships were visited during the period. A new truck park close to the main gate of the port is being built to help ease congestion in and around the area. UNIKOM continued to monitor port activities in the demilitarized zone, cooperating as appropriate with teams from the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq working in the area.

8.       Oil-drilling activities continued on both sides of the border, mainly on the Kuwaiti side and at the Al Ratqa oilfield. Work on two new sites on the Iraqi side, south-west of patrol and observation base N6, has been continuing since the end of May.

9.       Kuwait continued work on an electric fence running one kilometre parallel to the border on the Kuwaiti side of the demilitarized zone. At the end of the reporting period, the fence was almost half the length of the demilitarized zone. Crossing sites through the fence were being arranged at positions adjacent to Kuwaiti police posts, with each gate being controlled from the police post nearby. Those gates were to be open to UNIKOM personnel at all times. The Kuwaiti authorities expected the construction to be completed by February 1998.

10.     A year ago, my predecessor, agreed to the UNIKOM recommendation to improve the monitoring of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway (see S/1996/801). This required the setting up of an additional observation post on Warbah Island, upgrading the radar and night-vision equipment at the two observation posts located at Al Faw and at the entrance of the Al Zubayr waterway and obtaining boats to enable UNIKOM to patrol the waterway. Construction on Warbah Island has begun. Two patrol boats and two support craft are being fitted out, and arrangements for purchasing the radar units are being finalized. Barring delays, the monitoring system should be operational in the first half of 1998.

11.     UNIKOM has continued to dispose of unexploded mines and bomblets in the demilitarized zone. During the reporting period, a total of 930 unexploded devices were detonated. Unexploded mines and bomblets, mostly on the Iraqi side of the demilitarized zone, were still resulting in casualties to civilians living and working in the area.

12.     UNIKOM provided security and logistic support for four meetings of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Technical Subcommittee on Military and Civilian Missing Prisoners of War and Mortal Remains. The meetings were held on 30 April, 2 June, 16 July and 18 August 1997. They were conducted in the demilitarized zone, alternately at UNIKOM headquarters in Umm Qasr, Iraq, and at the support base in Camp Khor, Kuwait. ICRC representatives from Iraq and Kuwait, delegations of Iraq and Kuwait and observers from France, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America attended the meetings.

13.     UNIKOM continued to maintain constant and close liaison with the authorities of both Iraq and Kuwait at various levels, including through its liaison offices in Baghdad and Kuwait City. Both parties cooperated with the Mission in the conduct of its operations.

III. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

14.     As at August 1997, the overall strength of UNIKOM was 1,283, as follows:

(a)      A total of 194 military observers, from Argentina (3), Austria (6), Bangladesh (5), Canada (4), China (11), Denmark (5), Fiji (5), Finland (5), France (11), Ghana (5), Greece (5), Hungary (6), India (5), Indonesia (5), Ireland (6), Italy (5), Kenya (6), Malaysia (5), Nigeria (6), Pakistan (6), Poland (5), Romania (5), the Russian Federation (11), Senegal (5), Singapore (5), Sweden (6), Thailand (5), Turkey (7), the United Kingdom (11), the United States (11), Uruguay (5) and Venezuela (3);

(b)      An infantry battalion of 765 from Bangladesh;

(c)      An engineering unit of 42 from Argentina;

(d)      A logistics unit of 34 from Austria;

(e)      A helicopter unit of 35 from Bangladesh;

(f)      A medical unit of 14 from Germany;

(g)      A total of 199 civilian staff, of whom 52 were recruited internationally.

Major-General Gian Giuseppe Santillo (Italy) continued as Force Commander.

IV. FINANCIAL ASPECTS

15.     The General Assembly, in its resolution 51/234 of 13 June 1997, appropriated $51,487,500 gross for the maintenance of UNIKOM for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, subject to review by the Security Council with regard to the question of termination or continuation of the Mission. Two thirds of the cost of the Mission, equivalent to some $33.1 million, is to be funded through voluntary contributions from the Government of Kuwait. Assessments on Member States have been made for the period ending 31 October 1997, and the Government of Kuwait has paid its voluntary contributions for the period ending 31 October 1997.

16.     As at 31 August 1997, unpaid assessed contributions to the Special Account for UNIKOM since the inception of the Mission through 31 October 1997 amounted to $11.9 million, representing some 5 per cent of the assessment for the Mission. The unpaid assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations amounted to $1.9 billion.

V.  OBSERVATIONS

17.     UNIKOM continued to contribute to the maintenance of calm and stability in the demilitarized zone. The situation along the border was generally quiet. UNIKOM received the cooperation of the Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities in discharging its duties. I recommend that the Mission be maintained.

18.     In conclusion, I wish to pay tribute to Major-General Santillo and the men and women under his command for the manner in which they have discharged their responsibilities. Their discipline and bearing have been of a high order, reflecting credit on themselves, on their countries and on the United Nations.