Zaire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The President made a statement. Statements were made by the representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, China, Romania, Austria, Ecuador, Belgium and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
"On 15 February, statements were made by the representatives of India, France, Cuba, Japan, Canada, Italy, Australia, Chile, Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Yugoslavia, the United States of America, the l<>lamic Republic oflran and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
"On 16 February, statements were made by the representatives of Pakistan, the Sudan, Mexico, Turkey, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Austria. The representative of Cyprus made a statement. Statements were made by the representatives ofthe United States and Yemen and by the President, speaking in his capacity as the representative of Zimbabwe.
"On 23 February, statements were made by the representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States of America, China, India, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Austria, Cuba, France, Belgium, Ecuador, Yemen and Romania. The Secretary-General made a statement. The representatives of Kuwait, Egypt, Zaire and Iraq made statements.
"On 25 February, statements were made by the representatives ofthe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Yemen, the United States of America, India, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China, 7.-aire, Cuba and Belgium.

Recalling the obligations of Member States under Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling also paragraph 9 of resolution 661 (1990) regarding assistance to the Government of Kuwait and paragraph 3 (c) of that resolution regarding supplies strictly for medical purposes and, in humanitarian circumstances, foodstuffs,
Taking note of the letters dated 27 February 1991 from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs oflraq addressed to the President of the Security Council and to the Secretary-General, confirming Iraq's agreement to comply fully with all of the resolutions noted above.40 and of his letter ofthe same date addressed to the President of the Security Council stating Iraq's intention to release prisoners of war immediately.4t
Noting the suspension of offensive combat operations by the forces of Kuwait and the Member States cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to resolution 678 (1990),
Bearing in mind the need to be assured of Iraq's peaceful intentions, and the objective expressed in resolution 678 (1990) of restoring international peace and security in the region,
Underlining the importance of Iraq taking the necessary measures which would permit a definitive end to the hostilities,
Affinning the commitment of all Member States to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Kuwait, and noting the intention expressed by the Member States cooperating with Kuwait under paragraph 2 ofresolution 678 (1990) to bring their military presence in Iraq to an end as soon as possible consistent with achieving the objectives of that resolution,

"On 2 March, the President made a statement."
At its 2978th meeting, on 2 March 1991, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to participate in the discussion ofthe item entitled: "The situation between Iraq and Kuwait".
Resolution 686 (1991)
of 2 Mardl 1991

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter,
1. Affirms that all twelve resolutions noted above continue to have full force and effect;
2. Demands that Iraq implement its acceptance of all twelve resolutions noted above and in particular that Iraq:
(a) Rescind immediately its actions purporting to annex Kuwait;

The Security Council,
Recalling and reaffinning its resolutions 660 (1990) of 2 August 1990, 661 (1990) of 6 August 1990, 662 (1990) of 9 August 1990, 664 (1990) of 18 August 1990, 665 (1990) of 25 August 1990, 666 (1990) of 13 September 1990, 667 (1990) of 16 September 1990, 669 (1990) of 24 September 1990, 670 (1990) of 25 September 1990, 674 (1990) of 29 October 1990, 677 (1990) of28 November 1990 and 678 (1990) of29 November 1990,

(b) Accept in principle its Iiabil ity under international law for any loss, damage or injury arising in regard to Kuwait and third States and their nationals and corporations, as a result of the invasion and illegal occupation of Kuwait by Iraq;
(c) Immediately release under the auspices of the International Committee ofthe Red Cross, Red Cross Societies or Red Crescent Societies all Kuwaiti and third-state nationals detained by Iraq and return the remains of any deceased Kuwaiti and third-State nationals so detained;

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(d) Immediately begin to retum all Kuwaiti property seized by Iraq, the return to be completed in the shortest possible period;
3. Also demands that Iraq:
(a) Cease hostile or provocative actions by its forces against all Member States, including missile attacks and flights of combat aircraft;
(b) Designate military commanders to meet with counterparts from the forct>-S of Kuwait and the Member States cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to resolution 678 (1990) to arrange for the military aspects of a cessation of hostilities at the earliest possible time.;
(c) Arrange for immediate access to and release of all prisoners of war under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross and return the remains of any deceased personnel of the forces of Kuwait and the Member States cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to resolution 678 (1990);
(d) Provide all information and assistance in identifYing Iraqi mines, booby traps and other explosives as well as any chemical and biological weapons and material in Kuwait, in areas of Iraq where forces of Member States cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to resolution 678 (1990) are present temporarily, and in the adjacent waters;
4. Recognizes that during the period required for Iraq to comply with paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the provisions of paragraph 2 of resolution 678 (1990) remain valid;
5. Welcomes the decision of Kuwait and the Member States cooperating with Kuwait pursuant to resolution 678 (1990) to provide access to and commence immediately the release of Iraqi prisoners of war under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as required by the terms of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949;42
6. Requests all Member States, as well as the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other international organizations in the United Nations system, to take all appropriate action to cooperate with the Government and people of Kuwait in the reconstruction of their country;
7. Decides that Iraq shall notify the Secretary-General and the Security Council when it has taken the actions set out above;
8. Also decides, in order to secure the rapid establishment of a definitive end to the hostilities, to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted at the 2978th meeting by 11 votes to 1 (Cuba), with 3 abstmlions (China, India, }emen).

Decisions
At its 2979 meeting, on 3 March 1991, the Council continued its consideration of the item.
At the same me.eting, following consultations among the members of the Security Council, the President made the following statement on behalf of the members of the Counci1:43
"The Security Council welcomes the decisions taken to date relating to food and medical needs by the Security Council Committee established under resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, including those just taken to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance including infant formula and water purification material.
"It calls upon the Committee to continue to act promptly on requests submitted to it for humanitarian assistance.
"It urges the Committee to pay particular attention to the findings and recommendations on critical medical/public health and nutritional conditions in Iraq which have been and will continue to be submitted to it by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other relevant organizations, consistent with the relevant resolutions, and urges these humanitarian agencies to play an active role in this process and co-operate closely with the Committee in its work.
"The Council welcomes the Secretary-General's announcement that he plans to send urgently a mission led by Under-Secretary-General Martti Ahtisaari comprising representatives ofthe appropriate United Nations agencies to Iraq and Kuwait to assess the humanitarian needs arising in the in1mediate post-crisis environment. The Council invites the Secretary-General to keep it informed in the shortest possible time on the progress of his mission, on which it pledges to take immediate action."
In a letter dated 1 March 1991,44 the Secretary-General informed the President of the Security Council that the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations had addressed a letter to the Secretary-C.JCneral on 27 February 1991,45 in which, on behalf of his Government, he had requested the Secretary-General to authorize the immediate dispatch of a mission to Kuwait. In that letter, a copy of which was annexed to the Secretary-General's letter, it was requested that the mission include representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization and assess the loss of life incurred during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, examine the practices by the Iraqi occupation forces against the civilian population of Kuwait and the damages inflicted on the general infrastructures in Kuwait and guide Kuwait in drawing

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