United Nations Security Council Resolution 712
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
712, adopted on September 19, 1991, after recalling resolutions 661
(1990), 686
(1991), 687
(1991), 688
(1991), 692
(1991), 699
(1991), 705
(1991) and 706
(1991), the Council, acting under Chapter VII
, reaffirmed and discussed provisions of Resolution 706 and called for international co-operation.
The resolution first invited the Security Council Committee established under Resolution 661 to authorise the release by the Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar
from the escrow
account of the first one-third portion in the United Nations Compensation Commission
to finance the purchase foodstuffs, medicines, materials and other supplies for civilian needs. It called on the Secretary-General and the Committee to co-operate with the Government of Iraq to ensure an effective implementation of the current resolution, to enable an equitable distribution to meet humanitarian needs.
The Council also decided that petroleum
and petroleum products while under the Iraqi title are immune from legal proceedings, calling on the domestic systems of other states assure this protection. It also stated that the escrow account, the United Nations Compensation Commission, weapons inspectors and other experts all enjoy the privileges and immunities
of the United Nations.
The Council finally requested the Secretary-General to take "all actions necessary" to implement the provisions of Resolution 712, and called upon all Member States to co-operate in the implementation of Resolution 706 and the current resolution, especially with regards to petroleum
products, medicines and supplies for civilian needs.
Resolution 712 was adopted by 13 votes to one against from Cuba
, and one abstention
from Yemen
. Iraq did not initially accept or reject the provisions outlined.
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"....
712, adopted on September 19, 1991, after recalling resolutions 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), 686
United Nations Security Council Resolution 686
United Nations Security Council Resolution 686, adopted on March 2, 1991, after reaffirming resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, 677 and 678 , the Council noted the suspension of military activities against Iraq and that all twelve resolutions continue to have full force...
(1991), 687
United Nations Security Council Resolution 687
United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, adopted on April 3, 1991, after reaffirming resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, 677, 678 and 686 , the Council set the terms, in a comprehensive resolution, with which Iraq was to comply after losing the Gulf War.The...
(1991), 688
United Nations Security Council Resolution 688
United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, adopted on April 5, 1991, after receiving letters from the representatives of France, Iran and Turkey and expressing its concern over repression of the Iraqi people, including those in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Council condemned the repression and...
(1991), 692
United Nations Security Council Resolution 692
United Nations Security Council Resolution 692, adopted on May 20, 1991, after recalling resolutions 674 , 686 and 687 , as well as taking the report by the Secretary-General, the Council decided to establish the United Nations Compensation Commission to deal with compensation claims resulting...
(1991), 699
United Nations Security Council Resolution 699
United Nations Security Council Resolution 699, adopted unanimously on June 17, 1991, after recalling Resolution 687 and noting the report by the Secretary-General it requested, the Council, acting under Chapter VII, confirmed that the International Atomic Energy Agency and United Nations Special...
(1991), 705
United Nations Security Council Resolution 705
United Nations Security Council Resolution 705, adopted unanimously on August 15, 1991, after considering a note by the Secretary-General, the Council decided that compensation paid by Iraq to the United Nations Compensation Commission arising from Resolution 687 should not exceed 30 per cent of...
(1991) and 706
United Nations Security Council Resolution 706
United Nations Security Council Resolution 706 decided on a mechanism to allow Iraq to sell oil in return for humanitarian aid from Member States. The Council, acting under Chapter VII, adopted the resolution on August 15, 1991, after recalling resolutions 661 , 686 , 687 , 688 , 692 , 699 and 705...
(1991), the Council, acting under Chapter VII
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, reaffirmed and discussed provisions of Resolution 706 and called for international co-operation.
The resolution first invited the Security Council Committee established under Resolution 661 to authorise the release by 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...
from the escrow
Escrow
An escrow is:* an arrangement made under contractual provisions between transacting parties, whereby an independent trusted third party receives and disburses money and/or documents for the transacting parties, with the timing of such disbursement by the third party dependent on the fulfillment of...
account of the first one-third portion in the United Nations Compensation Commission
United Nations Compensation Commission
The United Nations Compensation Commission was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council. Its mandate is to process claims and pay compensation for losses and damage suffered as a direct result of Iraq's 1990-1991 invasion and occupation of Kuwait...
to finance the purchase foodstuffs, medicines, materials and other supplies for civilian needs. It called on the Secretary-General and the Committee to co-operate with the Government of Iraq to ensure an effective implementation of the current resolution, to enable an equitable distribution to meet humanitarian needs.
The Council also decided that petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and petroleum products while under the Iraqi title are immune from legal proceedings, calling on the domestic systems of other states assure this protection. It also stated that the escrow account, the United Nations Compensation Commission, weapons inspectors and other experts all enjoy the privileges and immunities
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...
of the United Nations.
The Council finally requested the Secretary-General to take "all actions necessary" to implement the provisions of Resolution 712, and called upon all Member States to co-operate in the implementation of Resolution 706 and the current resolution, especially with regards to petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
products, medicines and supplies for civilian needs.
Resolution 712 was adopted by 13 votes to one against 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 one 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...
from 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....
. Iraq did not initially accept or reject the provisions outlined.
See also
- 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 sanctionsIraq sanctionsThe Iraq sanctions were a near-total financial and trade embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council on the nation of Iraq. They began August 6, 1990, four days after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, stayed largely in force until May 2003 , and certain portions including reparations to Kuwait...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 701 to 800 (1991 – 1993)