February 27, 2011
UN chief greets Kuwaiti people on anniversary of end of Iraqi occupation
UN chief greets Kuwaiti people on anniversary of end of Iraqi occupation
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon on Saturday congratulated the government and the people of Kuwait as they marked 50 years as an independent country and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the nation's liberation from occupation by forces of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"This was a historic moment for Kuwait," the secretary-general said in his message on the liberation of Kuwait.
"It was also a notable development for the international community, as it was achieved under the mandate of Chapter VII resolutions of the United Nations Security Council -- and thus serves as a symbol of how the international community, acting together in the framework of international law and collective security, can uphold the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter," Ban said.
The secretary-general said the attack on the sovereignty of Kuwait brought untold suffering not only to its people, many of whom remain missing, but also to the region and to the people of many other countries.
The repercussions of the invasion of Kuwait were global, with many lives lost both in the initial incursion and in the military action that reversed the aggression, he noted.
Iraq, under the leadership of the late Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990, an event that sparked what came to be known as the first Gulf War.
In January 1991, coalition forces launched a massive military campaign against Iraq after it failed to comply with UN Security Council resolutions which demanded the withdrawal of its troops from Kuwait. Iraqi forces began retreating from Kuwait on Feb. 26, 1991.
"Today, Kuwait and Iraq stand at the dawn of a new era of peaceful coexistence and friendly relations," Ban said. "I welcome the recent steps taken by the leadership of the two countries to normalize relations and resolve outstanding issues within the framework of the resolutions of the United Nations."
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"This was a historic moment for Kuwait," the secretary-general said in his message on the liberation of Kuwait.
"It was also a notable development for the international community, as it was achieved under the mandate of Chapter VII resolutions of the United Nations Security Council -- and thus serves as a symbol of how the international community, acting together in the framework of international law and collective security, can uphold the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter," Ban said.
The secretary-general said the attack on the sovereignty of Kuwait brought untold suffering not only to its people, many of whom remain missing, but also to the region and to the people of many other countries.
The repercussions of the invasion of Kuwait were global, with many lives lost both in the initial incursion and in the military action that reversed the aggression, he noted.
Iraq, under the leadership of the late Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990, an event that sparked what came to be known as the first Gulf War.
In January 1991, coalition forces launched a massive military campaign against Iraq after it failed to comply with UN Security Council resolutions which demanded the withdrawal of its troops from Kuwait. Iraqi forces began retreating from Kuwait on Feb. 26, 1991.
"Today, Kuwait and Iraq stand at the dawn of a new era of peaceful coexistence and friendly relations," Ban said. "I welcome the recent steps taken by the leadership of the two countries to normalize relations and resolve outstanding issues within the framework of the resolutions of the United Nations."
