Symposium

• Fabri, Hélène Ruiz

Abstract

The emergence of issues of independence and impartiality in relation to the work of UNSCOM is directly linked to the fact that this body's tasks changed from short‐term to long‐term ones. This change considerably increased its need for support from Iraq, the UN Security Council and Member States. Instead, this support, for various reasons, declined. UNSCOM was the first institution of its kind and its experience may be viewed as an experiment which gives rise to several questions, especially relating to the ease with which a state can conceal information relating to disarmament monitoring and verification processes, and to the need for clear goals on the part of states or organs which initiate this type of process. However, these questions do not make UNSCOM's experience a failure.