Reflection of Security Council Resolution 688 in the Deliberations of the British House of Commons

Abstract

This study examines the positions of Members of the British House of Commons regarding United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, adopted in 1991 in the aftermath of the popular uprising and the mass displacement in Kurdistan–Iraq. It focuses on the background to the adoption of the resolution and the support it received within the Security Council, particularly from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The study also analyzes the positions of both the British government and the parliamentary opposition, as reflected in ministerial statements in the House of Commons, where the resolution was addressed primarily as a humanitarian measure. It clarifies the resolution’s provisions, the requirements for its implementation, and the respective roles of the British government and the United Nations.

Furthermore, the study highlights the demands of Members of Parliament for the provision of urgent assistance to Kurdish refugees, especially with reference to paragraph three of the resolution. It also discusses the resolution’s impact on international law, considering it a shift in favor of humanitarian considerations at the expense of the principle of state sovereignty, as well as concerns regarding the Iraqi government’s non-compliance and the potential imposition of international sanctions. A survey of British parliamentary debates revealed that a number of members of the British General Assembly considered the impact of Resolution 688 on international decisions important for the advancement of the human dimension. It also decided to open the door to redefining the classical concept of the sovereignty of governments. On the other hand, few members of the council considered the decision a violation of international sovereignty and law.

On the other hand, an investigation into the debates in the British parliament showed that there was obvious concern among members of the General Assembly about the possibility of implementing Resolution 688 by the Iraqi authorities. The lawmakers expressed their doubts that the Iraqi government is committed to ending the repression of its people and allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid. This concern prompted a number of council members to take action against the workers to guarantee the implementation of the decision.