S/PV.6586 Security Council

I thank Mr. Melkert for his briefing. I now give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I would like to extend my thanks to the previous President of the Security Council, His Excellency the Permanent Representative of Gabon, for his efforts during the month of June. I would like also to thank Mr. Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, and his team in Baghdad and New York for their sincere efforts in helping the Iraqi people and the Iraqi Government. The political and security situation in Iraq witnessed significant developments following the success of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, which were held in March 2010 with broad participation on the part of all components of the Iraqi population. Those elections resulted in the formation of a national partnership Government from all of the political blocs that won in the elections, which strengthened the democratic process and led to greater security and stability. The next stage, which will follow the withdrawal of the American forces at the end of this year, will bring immense challenges and responsibilities to the Iraqi Government. From a security perspective, the Iraqi Government is continuing to improve the ability of its security forces and to prepare them to stand in the face of terrorist attacks, protect internal security and defend democracy in Iraq. The Iraqi Government will work on the optimum implementation of the strategic framework agreement with the United States and the partnership agreement with the European Union, which will, hopefully, be signed this year. The Iraqi Government will benefit from the expertise of NATO on building military capabilities in keeping with Security Council resolution 1546 (2004). On 27 March, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr. Nuri al-Maliki, launched a 100-day initiative whose goal was to put Government institutions on the right path so as to enable them to improve their performance and to identify their strong points, in order to capitalize on them, and their weaknesses, in order to address them. The initiative coincided with the publication of a paper on administrative, political and services reforms and on fighting unemployment, which was approved by the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister also decided to establish a coordination committee for the 100-day initiative, chaired by the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, to prepare a report on the outcome of the work performed by the ministries. In a speech televised to the Iraqi people on 23 June, the Prime Minister stated that the general index and the final outcome of the 100-day plan showed that the performance of most ministries was between average and good. However, as the performance of quite a few ministries was weak and at an unacceptable level, a series of actions will be adopted: first, trim the Government and all non-essential and honorary positions, which had become an urgent need, according to all indicators; secondly, at the ministerial level, a change in the number of ministries; thirdly, conduct a professional evaluation aimed at implementing changes in the staff of a number of ministries at the level of deputy ministers, advisers and general directors; and fourthly, continue the process of monitoring and evaluation from the point reached by the 100-day initiative, at an accelerated pace. The Iraqi Government was able to advance the process of national reconciliation by ending the issue of dissolved entities, integrating them into society within the framework of the Justice and Accountability Law. The Government also addressed the issue of the Sons of Iraq — also known as the Awakening Council — and to date has integrated 45 per cent of them into the various ministries. Tribal councils were established for tribal reform and to avert conflicts, so as to achieve convergence among the different components of Iraqi society, with a view to breaking down the barriers placed by terrorists between the sons of the country. The Government also supports the religious conferences held to bring closer the different views of Iraqis. It is also open to armed groups surrendering their weapons and converging, with the rest of the Iraqi people, under the tent of Iraq. In addition, the Government has created a general atmosphere conducive to reconciliation by promoting a culture of understanding and has moved to have the ministries of education, culture and religious endowments change certain school curricula so as to spread a culture of love and harmony among Iraqis. In the field of development, the Iraqi Government has coordinated its efforts with those of its international partners to implement the National Development Plan for the five years from 2010 to 2014. The plan, whose cost will reach $186 billion, includes approximately 2,700 strategic projects in many fields and is aimed at making a quantum leap in terms of the Iraqi economy and improving the services provided to the country’s citizens. The system for the management of Iraqi human development was recently finalized, with a view to supporting and following up on the implementation of the plan, at a time when the Government is working on the implementation of an ambitious development programme to build a strong economy that encourages investment and provides the appropriate legislative atmosphere to protect investors and their capital. This coincided with the Prime Minister’s assertion that the Iraqi Government was committed to its obligations in the context of reforming the Iraqi economy by adopting a free-market policy, carrying out the legislative reforms needed in different sectors, and giving the private sector the attention necessary for it to play its part in the economic development process. In addition, the Iraqi oil sector is experiencing stability, with average exports of around 2 million barrels a day and average production of more than 2.5 million barrels a day. The Iraqi Government is still working to implement the national plan to improve the Iraqi oil industry, which aims to reach a production level of 12 million barrels per day in 2017. Regarding the efforts made by the Iraqi Government to solve the housing problem, the Government signed a contract on 25 May with the Korean company Hanwha to build 100,000 units in Baghdad Province. On 31 May, the Government also signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the agency in charge of human settlement issues. With regard to the subject of the census, while attending the celebration of the International Day for Population, organized by the Ministry of Planning, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that the Iraqi Government was committed to reaching an agreement to conduct the census because it was not possible to build a real State on scientific bases unless a general population census were conducted to survey all the needs and the available capacities and capabilities. The Prime Minister added that the census was a national development project that would meet the statistical needs of ministries and private institutions necessary for planning and development. He also stated that the Government had provided the necessary support for the census project, as well as the technical and professional preparations necessary to ensure its success. The new Iraq has paid special attention to human rights issues by establishing credible and independent national mechanisms charged with monitoring the human rights situation in Iraq and ensuring that those rights are protected. The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights was therefore established. Beginning in April, nominations began to be accepted for the Commission’s 11-member council. The council will enjoy broad authority in monitoring the situation of human rights in Iraq. In the same context, a conference was held in June to discuss the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council. That meeting had the support of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and included the participation of Mr. Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq. Representatives from several international organizations, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps in Baghdad were also in attendance. The conference called for a national plan for human rights and for the teaching of human rights in schools and universities. Improving the education sector is also one of the main priorities for the Iraqi Government, which has adopted a broad programme to improve curricula, build schools and universities and send Iraqi students to other countries to study as part of the educational initiative. On 7 April, Camp Ashraf, which is occupied by the Iranian Mujahedin Khalq Organization, witnessed security events after Iraqi security and riot control forces attempted to establish Government control in the north-eastern part of the camp, which includes farmland that belongs to Iraqi citizens. Iraqi forces were subject to an attack with firebombs and knives, which led to clashes. A number of camp residents were killed or injured, with seven members of the Iraqi forces injured. The aim of the security forces was not to take over the camp or remove its residents by force. I would like to point out here that, since 7 April, the Iraqi Government has allowed representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and many international organizations to enter the camp to deliver food and medicine to its residents. The Government also expressed its willingness to start a Government investigation regarding those events. However, that organization considers the camp as liberated and holy territory. It is refusing to leave the camp, which is a stark challenge to Iraq’s sovereignty. The organization’s leadership is interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs and calling publicly for the overthrow of the Iraqi Government and inciting against it. This organization is considered a terrorist organization in the United States. It was considered as a terrorist group in Europe until it was removed from the European list of such organizations. It is also one of the organizations that collaborated with the former regime of Saddam Hussein, acting as a tool of repression against the Iraqi people. The Iraqi Government therefore took the decision to ensure the departure of members of the group from Iraq by the end of 2011, as well as to work on their resettlement and on guaranteeing their human rights. Iraq has suffered for long time from the sanctions placed on it because it represented a threat to international peace and security after Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. However, since 2003 Iraq has proved beyond any doubt that it no longer represents a threat to international peace and security. In furtherance of the goals of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security, Iraq supports international efforts aimed at disarmament and arms control. On 19 August 2008, Iraq joined the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. On 12 February 2009, it acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction. On 12 November 2009, Iraq signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. And, on 11 August 2010, Iraq signed The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. In addition, Iraq chaired the substantive session of the Disarmament Commission held from 4 to 21 April 2011, which strengthened the momentum in the bilateral and group negotiations on nuclear disarmament. All of this constitutes a clear message from Iraq that it is no longer a threat to international peace and security, but rather that Iraq is an important and effective country in the international efforts to spread international peace and security throughout our world. On the regional front, the Arab world is witnessing a wave of political changes and reform movements that prove the rightness of Iraq’s political direction in terms of achieving political change and adopting democracy, elections and the peaceful transition of power as a way of governing. I would like to point out that, during the 2004 discussions relating to development and modernization in the Arab world, Iraq emphasized the importance of activating the mechanisms of the joint Arab system to deepen the foundations of democracy, expand the participation of the masses in the political sector and in the taking of national decisions, continue economic reforms to raise the living conditions of Arab nations, ensure social justice and underscore the importance of women’s role in society and the need to support their rights and to empower them, as well as many other important matters. If these points had been taken with seriousness and foresight, maybe we could have avoided many of the events now happening in the Arab world. Owing to Iraq’s belief in the importance of taking its leadership role in the joint Arab work system and its joint mechanisms — at the forefront of which is the Summit of the League of Arab States — Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari delivered a letter to the Secretary-General of the Arab League in which Iraq requested the postponement of the Summit scheduled to be held in Baghdad in May, to be rescheduled to its regular time in March 2012. That request was due to the situation and political developments in the Arab world, which is still escalating, with the implications that entails. The Iraqi Government believes that, at this stage, the timing is not appropriate for the holding of the Summit. However, Iraq reserves its right to host the Arab Summit in Baghdad on the date I have mentioned. On 5 May, the general secretariat of the Arab League issued an official statement indicating that the Summit had been postponed upon an official request from Iraq, which reserved the right to host the Summit in Baghdad and to maintain the helm of the joint Arab work for a full year from the date of holding the next Summit. As a result of Iraq’s openness to all countries of the world, the past period has seen many visits to Baghdad by foreign officials. Mr. John Boehner, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, visited Baghdad on 16 April. Mr. Marzuki Ali, Speaker of Indonesia’s People’s Representative Council, visited Baghdad on 3 May. Ms. Nancy Pelosi, leader of the Democratic Party bloc in the United States Congress, visited Baghdad on 5 May. United States Senator John McCain visited Iraq, along with a congressional delegation, on 9 May. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Baghdad on 10 May. Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs Aliakbar Salehi visited Iraq on 11 May. Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas visited Baghdad on 23 May. Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit visited Baghdad on 1 June. Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe visited Iraq on 11 June. In addition, Iraq’s Prime Minister visited the Republic of Korea on 27 April, where he met President Lee Myung-bak and Mr. Park Hee-ta, Speaker of the National Assembly. Iraq’s Minister for Foreign Affairs also headed Iraq’s delegation to the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Bali from 23 to 27 May. At that meeting, he delivered a statement in which he expressed Iraq’s desire to open collaboration channels in the field of investments, which would enforce the ties of cooperation between Iraq and countries of the Movement. He also expressed the hope of the Iraqi Government to activate its role at the working level with regional and international organizations, especially within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Hoshyar Zebari also headed Iraq’s delegation that participated in the thirty- eighth work session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Astana from 28 to 30 June. On 15 December 2010, the Council hosted an historic meeting (see S/PV.6450) on Iraq at which three important resolutions were adopted: resolutions 1956 (2010), 1957 (2010) and 1958(2010). These resolutions represented the beginning of the end of sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq as a result of the crimes of the Saddam regime. The Iraqi Government is working on following up on those three resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The Iraqi Government has started consultations with the Secretariat to formulate a memorandum of understanding regarding the implementation of paragraph 7 of the resolution 1958 (2010) relating to ending the oil-for-food programme. Iraq has presented its fourth and last report to the Security Council in April regarding the successor arrangements of the Development Fund for Iraq. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is following up on the subject of ratifying the additional protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency as part of its commitment to resolution 1957 (2010). The Government of Iraq, pursuant to its commitment to improve its relations with the State of Kuwait, has exhibited a thorough spirit of cooperation at various levels to resolve all outstanding issues. The Joint Ministerial Committee held a meeting in March, chaired by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries. Iraq has emphasized the importance of the principle of joint management of the navigational channel in Khawr Abdullah and of respect for the report of the specialized committee in charge of marking the borders to ensure the freedom of navigation. I would like to point out my Government’s position regarding the issue of missing Kuwaitis and Kuwaiti property, as mentioned in the letter of 5 July from the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Secretary-General, which is not to extend the mandate of the High-level Coordinator when it expires on 31 December; to depend on the mechanisms of the Tripartite Commission; and, as suggested in the Minister’s letter to the Secretary-General dated 26 November 2010, to establish a technical team in the Kuwaiti Embassy in Baghdad, which was welcomed by all members of the Security Council in its press statement of 17 December 2010 (SC/10130). Working in this way, we could better serve the interests of our two countries. The Foreign Minister asserted in his letter that the Government of Iraq is completely serious about solving all of its outstanding issues with the State of Kuwait and is proving that it is taking the necessary steps to implement relevant Security Council resolutions. Iraq realizes that confidence-building must originate from the desire of both countries to improve their relations in order to serve the interests of both the Iraqi and the Kuwaiti peoples. Finally, I would like to reaffirm my Government’s appreciation for the role played by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and for the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Ad Melkert, in providing the backing and support requested by the Iraqi Government, in accordance with the mechanisms agreed upon by the two parties.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. I now invite members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on this subject.