International Verification of WMD Proliferation: Applying Unmovic's: Legacy
Authors
Ron Cleminson
Abstract
The primary threat to international peace and security facing the United Nations today remains proliferation of Weapons of Mass destruction (WMD). 2007 offers a turning point for the Security Council in meeting this challenge. Recently, the Economist Magazine called upon the big powers to “make better use of the existing potential for multilateral, lawful, international actions that the UN uniquely provides.” A matrix of legally-binding, multilateral WMD non-proliferation agreements already exists. Each has its own discipline-specific verification mechanism. Oversight provisions and treaty mandates do not foster innovation so there is little, if any, cross-cutting interplay between them. While UN Expert Verification Studies (1990, 1995, 2006) do provide constructive, reasoned insights into concept and theory, they fall well short in the practical dimension. This paper focuses on a unique legacy of experience and expertise acquired in Iraq during UNSCOM/UNMOVIC operations under UNSCR 687 (1991) and UNSCR 1284 (1999). Drawing from that multidisciplinary legacy, members of UNMOVIC’s professional staff in New York continue their research and analysis aimed at strengthening the UN’s indigenous verification capability by “connecting the dots”. UNMOVIC’s unique legacy should not be lost by default.
Author Biography
Ron Cleminson
Col. F. Ron Cleminson (Ret.’d) was seconded to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs following his retirement from the Royal Canadian Air Force. At DFAIT, he created in 1982 and for many years ran the Verification Research Unit. In 1991, he was appointed a Commissioner for UNSCOM, and in 1999 was appointed to the Amorim Panel at the UN, which was charged with developing recommendations for the Security Council for the re-establishment of a verification regime for Iraq. He was subsequently appointed a Commissioner for UNSCOM.
