TARIQ AZIZ - IRAQ

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06498253
• 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: April 5, 1994

Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498253
IRAQ
Tariq AZIZ
(Phonetic: ahZEEZ)'
Deputy Prime Minister (since 1979)
Member, Revolutionary Command Council (since 1977)
Tariq Aziz is one of President Saddam Husayn's most important counselors, particularly
on international and political issues. He remains de facto Foreign Minister (he held
the job during 1983-91).
as a member of Iraq's miniscule Christian community, he could
not take power in Muslim-dominated Iraq if he wanted to. Posing no threat to Saddam,
he retains a position of trust in the President's cabinet.
A Diplomat's Diplomat
Aziz's mastery
of English and cosmopolitan demeanor should not be construed as pro-Western sentiment.
he is as committed to Saddam's policies as the
rest of his colleagues in the government.
Game Strategist
Aziz is one of the architects of Baghdad's recent diplomatic offensive that takes
a cooperative approach to getting the UN Security Council (UNSC) to lift sanctions.
he has advocated cooperation with the UN Special Commission,
and over the past year he has been especially active on the sanctions issue:
--He has promised to pass UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's
suggestion that Saddam accept long-term monitoring by the UN and release of Western
prisoners
--He began negotiations that led to French cooperation in getting sanctions lifted
in return for Iraq's signing on with French oil companies for the development of
Iraqi oil fields
--Aziz has reportedly won Russian support for removal of sanctions in return for
cash payments and future purchases of all weapons from Russia
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498253
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498253
Background
Aziz is considered to be one of Iraq's most ardent Baath Party ideologues, and his
party credentials are impeccable. He participated in the 1968 coup that brought the
Baathists to power. During the mid-to late-1970s, while serving as Minister of Information
and then as a member of the Revolutionary Command Council and the party's Regional
helped Saddam undermine then President Ahmad al-Bakr
Saddam made Aziz Deputy Prime Minister after Bakr's ouster in 1979.
Aziz was born in 1936.
eloquent English
Closet Moderate?
He speaks
Aziz and his wife, Violette, have at least two children.
Before Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 viewed Aziz as having
generally advocated a moderate foreign policy. or example, 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 improve 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 sttIpment of the Areh-lsreeli nonflict and urged the PLO
to adopt moderate positions While we believe Aziz probably
still tries occasionally to present moderate views to the President, he never pushes
them too far and will support whatever decision Saddam makes
LDA M 94-11760
5 April 1994
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498253