Anniversary Of Halabja And Future Of Democracy In Iraq

EDM number 1609 in 1992-93, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 15/03/1993.

That this House notes the increasingly serious consequences of the prolonged humanitarian and political crisis faced by the people of Iraqi Kurdistan; notes that the area continues to suffer from an illegal economic blockade imposed by Saddam Hussein, in clear contravention of UNSCR 688; supports calls by international aid agencies that humanitarian aid should be transported directly to Kurdish areas, by-passing interference by Baghdad; calls for the selective lifting of UN sanctions against Iraqi Kurdistan, in relation to oil production for domestic consumption to combat the affects of the blockade; calls for the selective release of Iraqi frozen assets to the Iraqi National Congress to pay for the humanitarian effort and to begin the process of reconstruction and development; believes that stability, peace and democracy in Iraq can best be achieved through international support for the Iraqi National Congress; deplores the Baghdad regime's continuing attacks against the people of Iraq, particularly the recent massacre of over 30 Kurds by Iraqi agents in the village of Awina south of Arbil; expresses the hope that those concerned about the future of Iraq will commemorate the anniversary of the chemical weapons attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja which left over 5,000 dead; and notes the meeting held at the Houses of Parliament on 16th March.

This motion has been signed by a total of 31 MPs.