TARIQ AZIZ - IRAQ

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06498257
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-01885
• Publication Date: November 6, 2000

Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498257
IRAQ
Tariq AZIZ
(Phonetic: ahZEEZ)
Deputy Prime Minister (since 1979); Member, Revolutionary Command Council (since 1977)
Addressed as: Mr. Minister
Tariq Aziz is one of President Saddam Husayn's most important and capable deputies, particularly on
international and political issues. Aziz is the face of moderation that the regime presents to the world, and
he is one of the few Iraqi officials with access to Saddam who has a relatively cosmopolitan outlook. He
remains de facto Foreign Minister, a position he formally held during 1983-91.
as a Christian, he lacks widespread
support and poses no threat to Saddam, which earns him a position of trust in the President's cabinet: Aziz
gravitates to the role of statesman and diplomat
Demonstrating Diplomatic Elan
Aziz's mastery of English and
cosmopolitan demeanor should not be construed as pro-Western sentiment. Aziz dominates Iraq's Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the country's diplomacy,
A Closet Moderate?
Before Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, viewed Aziz as generally advocating a
moderate foreign policy. He was the official most closely associated with Iraq's attempt to improve its
standing with the international community during 1988-90. Aziz consistently worked to mend relations
with the United States before ties were officially reestablished in 1984. He was also a chief advocate of
Egypt's reintegration into the Arab fold in the late 1980s. During that time, he supported a negotiated
Ff the Arab-Israeli conflict and urged the PLO to adopt moderate positions
From 1992 to 1994 Aziz advocated cooperating with the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) settlejlientff
to lift sanctions against Iraq.
But Faithful Adherent to Hardline Policies
We believe that, although he probably still tries occasionally to present moderate views to the President,
Aziz never pushes them too far and will support whatever decision Saddam makes, while dealing faithfully
with the consequences of Saddam's actions. To this end, Aziz has repeatedly articulated Baghdad's
hardline stance toward sanctions and UNSCOM and now the UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection
Commission. In numerous press interviews, Aziz has claimed that Iraq has fulfilled all of its UN-
authorized requirements and that the lifting of the embargo has been long overdue, denying Baghdad's
culpability for the Iraqi economic difficulties and placing all the blame on the United States.
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Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498257
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498257
Background
Aziz is generally considered one of Iraq's most ardent Bath Party ideologues, and his party credentials
are impeccable. He participated in the 1968 coup that brought the Ba'thists to power. During the 1970s,
while serving first as Minister of Information and then as a member of the Revolutionary Command
Council and the party's regional command Aziz helned Saddam undermine former President Ahmad al-
Bakr and to take his place in 1979 Saddam made Aziz Deputy
Prime Minister
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Aziz speaks excellent hnglisn
and his wife, Violette, have two sons, Ziad and Saddam, and a daughter, Zaneb
LP 00-108930
06 November 2000
He
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498257