United Nations Security Council Resolution 674
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
674, adopted on October 29, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660
(1990), 661
(1990), 662
(1990), 664
(1990), 665
(1990), 666
(1990), 667
(1990) and 670
(1990) on the topic of Iraq
, the Council condemned the continuing situation in occupied Kuwait
after the Iraqi invasion
on August 2, 1990, reaffirming the goal of the international community of maintaining international peace and security.
, as well as the mistreatment of Kuwaiti nationals, in violation of decisions of the Council, the Fourth Geneva Convention
and international law
, inviting states to collect information of violations against them and making this information available to the Council. It also demanded Iraq fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
and Consular Relations
, after the diplomatic mission
s of some countries were entered by Iraqi forces, and requested Iraq to allow foreign nationals and diplomatic officials to leave. The Council further requested Iraq to rescind its removal of diplomatic immunity
and the closure of embassies in occupied Kuwait.
Regarding humanitarian
issues, Resolution 674 asserted that Iraq should ensure access to food, water and basic services to the civilian population of Kuwait, as well as to foreign nationals and diplomatic staff. The Council reminded Iraq that it is liable for any loss, damage or injury following the invasion concerning Kuwait and third states, and those of their nationals and corporations. At the same, the resolution asked Member States to collect information on relevant claims for restitution and compensation.
Noting that the Council will be seized of the matter until Kuwait achieves its independence again, the Council requested the Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
, "using his good offices", to continue to undertake diplomatic efforts in order to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis, reporting back on developments.
Resolution 674 was the tenth resolution adopted on the conflict, threatening "further measures" if necessary. It was the most comprehensive resolution on the conflict regarding humanitarian issues, and was adopted by 13 votes to none, with two abstention
s from Cuba
and Yemen
.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
674, adopted on October 29, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660
United Nations Security Council Resolution 660
United Nations Security Council Resolution 660, adopted on August 2, 1990, after noting its alarm of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, the Council condemned the invasion and demanded Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally to positions as they were on August 1, 1990.Yemen called upon Iraq and...
(1990), 661
United Nations Security Council Resolution 661
In United Nations Security Council Resolution 661, adopted on August 6, 1990, reaffirming Resolution 660 and noting Iraq's refusal to comply with it and Kuwait's right of self-defence, the Council took steps to implement international sanctions on Iraq under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter...
(1990), 662
United Nations Security Council Resolution 662
United Nations Security Council Resolution 662, adopted unanimously on August 9, 1990, recalling resolutions 660 and 661 , the Council decided that the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq under any form was illegal....
(1990), 664
United Nations Security Council Resolution 664
United Nations Security Council Resolution 664, adopted unanimously on August 18, 1990, reaffirming resolutions 660 , 661 and 662 , the Council recalled Iraq's obligations under international law and acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, demanded that Iraq permit and facilitate...
(1990), 665
United Nations Security Council Resolution 665
United Nations Security Council Resolution 665, adopted on August 25, 1990, after demanding the full and immediate implementation of resolutions 660, 661, 662 and 664, the Council authorised a naval blockade to enforce the embargo against Iraq, in the aftermath of its invasion of Kuwait on August...
(1990), 666
United Nations Security Council Resolution 666
United Nations Security Council Resolution 666, adopted on September 13, 1990, after recalling resolutions 661 and 664 which discussed the humanitarian situation in Iraq and Kuwait and the detention of nationals from foreign countries, the Council decided to ask the Security Council Committee to...
(1990), 667
United Nations Security Council Resolution 667
United Nations Security Council Resolution 667, adopted unanimously on September 16, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660 , 661 , 664 , 665 and 666 , the Council expressed its outrage and condemned "aggressive acts" by Iraq against diplomatic missions and personnel in occupied Kuwait, including...
(1990) and 670
United Nations Security Council Resolution 670
United Nations Security Council Resolution 670, adopted on September 25, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660 , 661 , 662 , 664 , 665 , 666 and 667 on the topic of Iraq, the Council condemned the continued Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, the violence against Kuwaiti citizens and its defiance of...
(1990) on the topic of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the Council condemned the continuing situation in occupied Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
after the Iraqi invasion
Invasion of Kuwait
The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
on August 2, 1990, reaffirming the goal of the international community of maintaining international peace and security.
Details
The resolution firstly demanded that Iraqi forces cease desist from taking foreign national hostageHostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
, as well as the mistreatment of Kuwaiti nationals, in violation of decisions of the Council, the Fourth Geneva Convention
Fourth Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in August 1949, and defines humanitarian protections for civilians...
and international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
, inviting states to collect information of violations against them and making this information available to the Council. It also demanded Iraq fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or...
and Consular Relations
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 is an international treaty that defines a framework for consular relations between independent countries...
, after the diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
s of some countries were entered by Iraqi forces, and requested Iraq to allow foreign nationals and diplomatic officials to leave. The Council further requested Iraq to rescind its removal of diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
and the closure of embassies in occupied Kuwait.
Regarding humanitarian
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
issues, Resolution 674 asserted that Iraq should ensure access to food, water and basic services to the civilian population of Kuwait, as well as to foreign nationals and diplomatic staff. The Council reminded Iraq that it is liable for any loss, damage or injury following the invasion concerning Kuwait and third states, and those of their nationals and corporations. At the same, the resolution asked Member States to collect information on relevant claims for restitution and compensation.
Noting that the Council will be seized of the matter until Kuwait achieves its independence again, the Council requested the Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar y de la Guerra is a Peruvian diplomat who served as the fifth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1982 to December 31, 1991. He studied in Colegio San Agustín of Lima, and then at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. In 1995, he ran unsuccessfully...
, "using his good offices", to continue to undertake diplomatic efforts in order to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis, reporting back on developments.
Resolution 674 was the tenth resolution adopted on the conflict, threatening "further measures" if necessary. It was the most comprehensive resolution on the conflict regarding humanitarian issues, and was adopted by 13 votes to none, with two abstention
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
s from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
.
See also
- Foreign relations of IraqForeign relations of IraqSince 1980, the foreign relations of Iraq were influenced by a number of controversial decisions by the Saddam Hussein administration. Hussein had good relations with the Soviet Union and a number of western countries such as France and Germany, who provided him with advanced weapons systems...
- Gulf WarGulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
- Invasion of KuwaitInvasion of KuwaitThe Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...
- Iraq–Kuwait relationsIraq–Kuwait relationsThe international relations of Iraq and Kuwait have been turbulent, fuelled by Iraqi debt and conflicts over oil.-History:In 1990, Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing Iraqi oil through slant drilling, however some Iraqi sources indicated Saddam Hussein's decision to attack Kuwait was made only a few...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 601 to 700 (1987 – 1991)