Joint Soviet-US Statement on Gulf adopted in Washington on 30 January 1991¹

         During the last round of talks on Tuesday, US Secretary of State James Baker and Soviet Foreign Minister Alexander Bessmertnykh adopted a Soviet-US Statement on the Gulf. Follows is the full text of this Statement:

         In the course of the discussions held in Washington on January 26-29, 1991, USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Bessmertnykh and US Secretary of State James Baker devoted considerable attention to the situation in the Persian Gulf.

         The Ministers reiterated the commitment of their countries to the UN Security Council Resolutions adopted in connection with Iraq's aggression against Kuwait.

         They expressed regret that numerous efforts of the United Nations, other international organizations, individual countries, and envoys were all rebuffed by Iraq.

         The military actions authorized by the United Nations have been provoked by the refusal of the Iraqi leadership to comply with the clear and lawful demands of the international community for withdrawal from Kuwait.

         Secretary of State Baker emphasized that the United States and its coalition partners are seeking the liberation of Kuwait, not the destruction of Iraq.

         He stressed that the United States has no quarrel with the people of Iraq, and poses no threat to Iraq's territorial integrity. Secretary Baker reiterated that the United States is doing its utmost to avoid casualties among the civilian population, and is not interested in expanding the conflict.

         Minister of Foreign Affairs Bessmertnykh took note of the American position and agreed that Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait must remain the goal of the international community. Both sides believe that everything possible should be done to avoid further escalation of the war and expansion of its scale.

         The Ministers continue to believe that a cessation of hostilities would be possible if Iraq made an unequivocal commitment to withdraw from Kuwait. They also believe that such a commitment must be backed by immediate, concrete steps leading to full compliance with the Security Council Resolutions.

         The Iraqi leadership has to respect the will of the international community. By doing so, it has it within its powers to stop the violence and bloodshed.

1 A. G. Noorani, The Gulf Wars, Documents and Analysis, Konark Publishers PVT LTD, Delhi, 1991, pp. 245-246.

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