Signs of "ambiguity" prevent Iraq from good relations with Kuwait - UN official
UNITED NATIONS, As Ad Melkert, the Special UN envoy for Iraq, on Tuesday expressed concern that "signs of ambiguity" seem to prevent Iraq from good neighbourhood relations with Kuwait and from getting out from under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, while the Iraqi UN Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati reiterated his Government's commitment to all council resolutions, mainly the ones pertaining to Kuwait."Not least important in normalizing the position of Iraq within the region and the wider international community is the aim to exit Chapter VII soonest, I should not hide some concern that signs of ambiguity seem to stand in the way of advancing towards good neighbourhood relations with Kuwait," Melkert told the Security Council as it discussed the Secretary-General's latest report on the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
Among those "ambiguities," Melkert mentioned that UNAMI continues to convey (to Iraq) that reaffirmation by Iraq of the border demarcated in 1993 and affirmed in council resolution 833 is "indispensable to bringing solution of other outstanding issues to a close, counting on the reassurance by the Government of Kuwait that normalizing relations is of mutual interest and benefit." The other outstanding issues, he mentioned, are those related to the Kuwaiti missing and return of property seized by the Iraqi occupying forces when they invaded Kuwait in 1990.
In his latest report to the council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said "I regret to report that the Government of Iraq is yet to respond to repeated requests for the implementation of the final phase of the Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Maintenance Project mandated by resolution 833 of 1993." Before reading his prepared speech, Al-Bayati said "my delegation took note" of the report of the Secretary-General, and regarding "our relation with our brotherly and neighbourly State of Kuwait, I can assure Mr. Melkert and the Security Council that Iraq is committed to all Security Council resolutions, especially those regarding the relation with Kuwait and the border." Only Melkert and Al-Bayati spoke in the council meeting today.
Melkert said the future Government in Iraq "should reflect on building an internal and external consensus on a regional policy for Iraq." "Security, stability and enonomic growth go hand in hand and Iraq and its neighbours would be served well by capitalizing on the strengths of a region with so much more potential for progress than we have seen so far. Constructive engagement, rather than partisan interference, would be of great benefit to all," Melkert said.
He added that hosting next year's Arab League Summit in Baghdad will offer Iraq a "unique opportunity to reinforce a positive agenda of regional engagement and cooperation." On the security front, Melkert said UNAMI is anticipating "important consequences" as a result of the withdrawal of US troops between now and the end of 2011.
"Given high security risks to the UN that will likely continue in the foreseeable future, the ability to provide adequate protection to UN staff remains key when determining the level and extent of the future UN presence in Iraq," he said.
He noted that relying on the Iraqi forces to provide security to UN staff would be gradual and "will take time" Therefore, he argued, a combination of security options during this transitional period is necessary.
Among the options are improving the UN's own capabilities, gradually increasing reliance on the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), additional support from member states by providing UN guards, and, as a last resort, judiciously outsourcing some security functions.
Al-Bayati told the council that Iraq's oil exports witnessed remarkable stability over the past months as it exports some two million barrels per day and works to increase that amount to reach 2.325 million barrels daily.
The Ministry of oil, he added, is preparing biddings which will focus on investment in natural gas fields to meet Iraq's growing natural gas needs as well as the need to develop the productive potential of those fields to allow the export of natural gas to foreign markets.
He complained that Iraq is still suffering from the sanctions imposed under the previous regime.
Those sanctions, he complained, still deny Iraq the use of technological advances and research. He urged the council, once again, to lift those restrictions now that the IAEA has confirmed Iraq's "excellent" cooperation in the implementation of disarmament resolutions.
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Tuesday, May 25th ~ IRAQ ~ Security Council Meeting: The situation concerning Iraq ...
Links ~ Iraq and the UN and Chapter 7
