United Nations Security Council Resolution 678
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
678, adopted on November 29, 1990, after reaffirming resolutions 660
, 661
, 662
, 664
, 665
, 666
, 667
, 669
, 670
, 674
and 677
(all 1990), the Council noted that despite all the United Nations efforts, Iraq
continued to defy the Security Council.
to the positions in which they were located on August 1, 1990, the day before the invasion of Kuwait
. If Iraq did not implement the resolution by January 15, 1991, Member States were authorised to use all necessary means to uphold and implement Resolution 660 (1990), requesting Member States to keep the Council informed on their decisions. This was the legal authorisation for the Gulf War
, as Iraq did not withdraw by the deadline.
Resolution 678 was adopted by 12 votes to 2 against (Cuba
, Yemen
) and one abstention
from the People's Republic of China
. China, which had usually vetoed
such resolutions authorising action against a state, abstained in an attempt to ease sanctions placed on it after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, and Cuba's position was contradictory as it had voted for or abstained on previous resolutions relating to Iraq, but did not support Resolution 678. Various members of the Council were rewarded with economic incentives as a result of their 'yes' vote, and those who initially opposed the resolution were discouraged from voting 'no' with the idea of economic penalties, particularly by the United States
. Yemen, which voted against, saw its workers expelled from Saudi Arabia
and had aid programmes to the country stopped by the United States
, World Bank
and International Monetary Fund
.
The relatively clear authority granted to Member States in this case contrasts with the disputed legality of U.S. actions in the Iraq disarmament crisis
of 2002-03. The extent of authority that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441
gave is the subject of disagreement.
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"....
678, adopted on November 29, 1990, after reaffirming 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...
, 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...
, 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....
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 669
United Nations Security Council Resolution 669
United Nations Security Council Resolution 669, adopted unanimously on September 24, 1990, after recalling Resolution 661 and Article 50 of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council was conscious of the increasing number of requests for assistance have been received under Article 50,...
, 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...
, 674
United Nations Security Council Resolution 674
United Nations Security Council Resolution 674, adopted on October 29, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660 , 661 , 662 , 664 , 665 , 666 , 667 and 670 on the topic of Iraq, the Council condemned the continuing situation in occupied Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion on August 2, 1990, reaffirming...
and 677
United Nations Security Council Resolution 677
United Nations Security Council Resolution 677, adopted unanimously on November 28, 1990, after recalling resolutions 660 , 662 and 674 , the Council condemned attempts by Iraq to alter the demographic information of Kuwait and the restrictions on the movement of its citizens.Acting under Chapter...
(all 1990), the Council noted that despite all the United Nations efforts, 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....
continued to defy the Security Council.
Details
The Council, recognising its responsibility to uphold international peace and security, offered Iraq one final chance to implement Resolution 660 (1990) which demanded that Iraq withdraw its forces unconditionally from KuwaitKuwait
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...
to the positions in which they were located on August 1, 1990, the day before the invasion of Kuwait
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...
. If Iraq did not implement the resolution by January 15, 1991, Member States were authorised to use all necessary means to uphold and implement Resolution 660 (1990), requesting Member States to keep the Council informed on their decisions. This was the legal authorisation for the Gulf War
Gulf War
The 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...
, as Iraq did not withdraw by the deadline.
Resolution 678 was adopted by 12 votes to 2 against (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...
, 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....
) 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 the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. China, which had usually vetoed
United Nations Security Council veto power
The United Nations Security Council "power of veto" refers to the veto power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council , enabling them to prevent the adoption of any "substantive" draft Council resolution, regardless of the level of international support...
such resolutions authorising action against a state, abstained in an attempt to ease sanctions placed on it after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, and Cuba's position was contradictory as it had voted for or abstained on previous resolutions relating to Iraq, but did not support Resolution 678. Various members of the Council were rewarded with economic incentives as a result of their 'yes' vote, and those who initially opposed the resolution were discouraged from voting 'no' with the idea of economic penalties, particularly by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Yemen, which voted against, saw its workers expelled from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and had aid programmes to the country stopped by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
.
The relatively clear authority granted to Member States in this case contrasts with the disputed legality of U.S. actions in the Iraq disarmament crisis
Iraq disarmament crisis
The issue of Iraq's disarmament reached a crisis in 2002-2003, when U.S. President George W. Bush demanded a complete end to what he alleged was Iraqi production of weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq comply with UN Resolutions requiring UN weapons inspectors unfettered access to areas those...
of 2002-03. The extent of authority that United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 is a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on November 8, 2002, offering Iraq under Saddam Hussein "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations" that had been set out...
gave is the subject of disagreement.
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...
- 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)