Middle East

Security Council members urge Iraq to redouble efforts to return stolen Kuwaiti property

18 December 2002
Members of the United Nations Security Council today urged Baghdad to intensify steps to return property stolen from Kuwait during Iraq's 1990 invasion, and to account for all persons missing since then.

Annan asks Israeli Defence Minister for report on killing of British aid worker

17 December 2002
The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has asked Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz for a thorough probe of the circumstances surrounding the death of British aid worker Iain Hook, who was fatally wounded by an Israeli soldier in the Jenin refugee camp last month.
Council President Amb. Alfonso Valdivieso

Security Council renews mandate of UN's Israel-Syria observer mission

17 December 2002
The Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution renewing for another six months the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has been monitoring a ceasefire between Israel and Syria since 1974.

Annan sees progress on Iraq's return of stolen Kuwaiti property but urges more action

17 December 2002
Recent months have witnessed advances in the return of property stolen by Iraq during its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, but more must be done for Baghdad to meet its international obligations on this front, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report to the Security Council.

UN experts probe suspected germ warfare sites in Iraq

17 December 2002
With new inspectors arriving in Iraq to boost their ranks, United Nations experts today probed suspected germ warfare and missile production sites around the country.

Baghdad earns $84 million under UN humanitarian 'oil-for-food' scheme

17 December 2002
The Government of Iraq last week sold 3.7 million barrels of oil for $84 million under the United Nations oil-for-food programme, which allows Baghdad to use a portion of its crude revenues for relief aid, the Office running the effort announced today.

Edited version of Iraq's weapons declaration prepared for all Security Council members

17 December 2002
United Nations officials today prepared to distribute to all 15 members of the Security Council copies of an edited version of the declaration by Iraq on its weapons programme.

Annan recommends extending UN’s Israel-Syria disengagement force

16 December 2002
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling for a six-month extension of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which since 1974 has monitored a ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

UN asks Baghdad to provide list of scientists involved in weapons programme

16 December 2002
Exercising power granted by the Security Council resolution which paved the way for resumed weapons inspections in Iraq, the United Nations has asked Baghdad for a list of scientists involved in the country's arms programme.

UN inspections pick up pace in Iraq

16 December 2002
With over 100 United Nations weapons inspectors now in Iraq, the international probe of the country's arms programme is picking up pace.