President Gorbachev's Statement
on 9 February 1991¹

         The developments in the Gulf Zone are taking an ever more alarming and dramatic turn. The war, the largest during the past several decades, is gaining in scope. The number of casualties, including among the civilian population is growing. Combat operations have already inflicted enormous material damage. Whole countries - first Kuwait, now Iraq - are facing the threat of catastrophic destruction. The discharge of an enormous amount of oil into the Gulf can develop into an extremely grave ecological disaster.

         The Soviet leadership reiterates its commitment, in principle to the UN Security Council resolutions, which reflect the will of the majority of countries and the hopes of nations for New World Order that would rule out aggression and infringement on other countries' territory and natural resources.

         However, the logic of the military operations and the character of the military actions are creating a threat of going beyond the mandate, defined by those resolutions.

         Provocative attempts to expand the scope of the war, to draw Israel and other countries into it, thus giving the conflict another destructive dimension. The Arab-Israeli one is also extremely dangerous.

         Judging by some statements on a political level and those made by influential mass media organs, attempts are being made to condition people by both sides of the conflict to the idea of a possibility and permissibility of the use of mass destruction weapons. If this happened, the Whole of the world politics, the world community in general would be shaken to the foundation.

         The development of events connected with this war evokes great concern in Soviet society and among the country's leadership. The more so that it is taking place close to the Soviet Union's borders.

         The only conclusion comes from historic responsibility, common sense and humanness to put to use all levers of a political settlement on the basis of the Security Council resolutions.

         At this critical moment I appeal publicly to the Iraqi President urging him to analyze again what is at stake for his country, to display realism which would make it possible to take the path of reliable and just peaceful settlement. I shall immediately send my personal representative to Baghdad to meet President Hussein.

         By taking these steps, we want acting jointly with Arab and other Moslem countries, with European and Asian countries, with the United States in the first place, with all permanent members of the Security Council, not only to help overcome the state of war as soon as

1 A. G. Noorani, The Gulf Wars, Documents and Analysis, Konark Publishers PVT LTD, Delhi, 1991, pp. 260-270.

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