United Nations Security Council Resolution 687

United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 was adopted on April 3, 1991, by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with 12 votes in favor, one against, and two abstentions, following the Gulf War between Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, and a coalition of countries led by the United States, with support from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria. The resolution was sponsored by the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union, and was aimed at establishing a formal ceasefire and setting the terms for the post-war period, including the destruction of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, under the supervision of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution also established the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) to monitor the Iraq-Kuwait border and called for the repatriation of Kuwaiti and Iraqi nationals, with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

● Introduction

The resolution was a key component of the international community's response to the Gulf War, which was sparked by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, and was widely condemned by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council, with the support of countries such as France, China, and Canada. The war was fought between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the United States, with the participation of United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria, and resulted in the liberation of Kuwait and the defeat of Iraq. The resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which allows the United Nations Security Council to take enforcement action to maintain international peace and security, with the support of United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar and the United Nations Security Council President.

● Background

The Gulf War was a major conflict that involved a coalition of countries led by the United States, with the support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members such as United Kingdom, France, and Canada, as well as Arab League members such as Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The war was sparked by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, which was widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly, and the European Union. The conflict resulted in significant damage to Kuwait's infrastructure and economy, as well as the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, with the assistance of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The resolution was aimed at establishing a formal ceasefire and setting the terms for the post-war period, including the destruction of Iraq's WMD programs, under the supervision of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with the support of Russia, China, and France.

● Provisions

The resolution contained several key provisions, including the establishment of a formal ceasefire, the destruction of Iraq's WMD programs, and the creation of a United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) to monitor the Iraq-Kuwait border, with the assistance of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The resolution also called for the repatriation of Kuwaiti and Iraqi nationals, with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the provision of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The resolution also established a United Nations Compensation Commission to settle claims related to the conflict, with the assistance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

● Aftermath

The adoption of the resolution marked a significant turning point in the aftermath of the Gulf War, as it established a formal ceasefire and set the terms for the post-war period, with the support of countries such as Germany, Japan, and India. The resolution was implemented with the assistance of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which worked to destroy Iraq's WMD programs, with the support of Russia, China, and France. The United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) was also established to monitor the Iraq-Kuwait border, with the assistance of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). However, the implementation of the resolution was not without challenges, as Iraq failed to comply with several of its provisions, including the destruction of its WMD programs, with the support of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Republican Guard.

● Implementation

The implementation of the resolution was a complex and challenging process, involving the coordination of multiple United Nations agencies and organizations, including the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), with the support of countries such as United States, United Kingdom, and France. The resolution required Iraq to destroy its WMD programs, which was a difficult and time-consuming process, with the assistance of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The resolution also required the repatriation of Kuwaiti and Iraqi nationals, which was a significant challenge, given the large number of people displaced by the conflict, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Despite these challenges, the resolution played a crucial role in establishing a formal ceasefire and setting the terms for the post-war period, with the support of the United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and the United Nations Security Council President.