February 26, 2010
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Security Council
SC/9871
6279th Meeting (AM)
Security Council Presidential Statement Welcomes Steps Taken by Iraq to Support International Non-Proliferation Regime, Comply with Disarmament Treaties
Also Underlines Readiness, Once Necessary Steps Taken, ‘To Review, with a view towards lifting’, Sanctions Imposed in 1991
Welcoming the steps taken by the Iraqi Government to support the international non-proliferation regime and adhere to global disarmament standards, the United Nations Security Council today underlined its readiness to consider lifting the trade sanctions it imposed on Iraq following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, including on materials that were capable of being used for chemical and biological weapons or ballistic missiles.
In a statement read by Gérard Araud of France, which holds the Council’s presidency for the month, the 15-nation body welcomed a recent letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq which confirmed that the Iraqi Government supported the international non-proliferation regime and complied with disarmament treaties and other relevant international instruments, and that it was also committed to taking additional steps in that regard and to inform the Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other relevant agencies on progress made towards implementing those measures.
The Security Council welcomed Iraq’s accession last year to the Convention on the Prohibition, Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction. It also welcomed Iraq’s intention to sign the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
Welcoming the Iraqi Government’s signature in 2008 of the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with IAEA, Council members noted that that Protocol was now before Iraq’s parliament for ratification, as was the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. They also further welcomed that, consistent with Iraqi law, the Iraqi Government had agreed to apply the Protocol provisionally, pending its entry into force.
Calling on the United nations nuclear watchdog agency to assess Iraq’s compliance with treaties barring development of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, the Council underlined its readiness, “once the necessary steps have been taken, to review, with a view towards lifting” the restrictions set out in its resolutions 678 (1991) and 707 (1991) related to weapons of mass destruction and civil nuclear activities.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2010/sc9871.doc.htm
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