Statement by Mr. Darmansyah Djumala Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations
New York, 18 February 2003 Mr. President, Let me begin by expressing the gratitude of my delegation to you and to your delegation for convening this meeting. On this issue that is so critical at this particular juncture, it is obvious that the Security Council needs to hear the views of the larger membership of the United Nations, and we thank you and the other members of the Council for making this opportunity available. Before going further, I would also like to express our appreciation to Dr. Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC; and to Dr. Mohamed El Baradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for their update reports to the Security Council last Friday. Mr. President, From those briefings, it is the impression of my delegation that the current situation, where the world seems perched on the thin edge of war, is not hopeless; and that the objectives of resolution 1441 (2002) can still be met. According to Mr. Blix’s report, more than 400 inspections, covering 300 sites, have already been carried out. They were all carried out without notice to the Iraqis, but still, access was nearly always promptly provided. This is an indication that the Government of Iraq has been cooperative so far, and a good basis to build both expectations and actual work for the rest of the exercise. It is to be noted that Mr. Blix also said in his briefing on Friday that there has been no convincing evidence so far that the Iraqi side knew in advance that UNMOVIC inspectors were coming to a particular site. The UNMOVIC Executive Chairman observed
that the inspectors have not yet found any weapons of mass destruction,
or related proscribed items and programmes, and only a small number
of empty chemical munitions that should have been declared by Iraq.
Similarly, Mr. El Baradei reported on Friday that the IAEA has so far completed a total of 177 inspections at 125 locations. During the process, Iraq also provided immediate access to all locations. The agency has found no evidence of ongoing prohibited nuclear or nuclear-related activities in the country. Mr. President, In the view of my delegation, there is nothing in the reports of both UNMOVIC and the IAEA, to which I have just alluded, that concludes that Iraq is, or is not in violation of resolution 1441 (2002). Both reports, however, are clear that the work of inspections is continuing according to plan, and that it is enjoying cooperation provided by Iraq. At this point, that is as much as can be expected. It seems quite clear that resolution 1441 is a finely-structured document. It provides a description of the disarmament scenario before Iraq, and clearly outlines consequences for default or violations. Between that scenario and the visiting of those consequences on Iraq, the inspections authorized by this Council have a critical role to play. It is only right that, in formulating the next step, the inspectors and the results of their inspections must be taken into account. To authorize war without that condition being fulfilled would amount to preconceived warfare, and seriously undermine the credibility of this Council. The problem, Mr. President, is possibly with the pace of the inspections. To that end, we share the views of those that feel that strengthening the inspections regime must be undertaken as a matter of urgency, including hastening the pace of the inspections. What is required then, is to allocate broader resources of time, manpower and equipment to the inspections, in line with the scenario outlined in resolution 1441 (2002).
Mr. President, My delegation acknowledges the cooperation provided so far to United Nations inspectors by the Government of Iraq, and hopes that it would be extended fully and unwaveringly in order to demonstrate that Iraq not only is complying with the terms of resolution 1441 (2002) but that it also does wish to be seen to be in compliance. Having said that, my delegation is of the opinion that diplomacy has neither been exhausted in this matter, nor is war imminent. We call for the unity of the Security Council on this sensitive matter, as this is the time to close ranks, not divide them. Obviously, this is a trying time for the Council, whose authority is at stake on this issue, and its members must work in unity in order to protect this authority. Such cooperation is also imperative so as to enable important decisions regarding this agenda item to be taken within the Council, and at the appropriate time, as it should be. In view of the complexity of the moment, these calls for harder work, wisdom and consultation -- not the throwing up of hands – of the Council in maximizing the use of all diplomatic means with a view to reaching a peaceful and durable solution to this question. I thank you, Mr. President.
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