S/PV.7738 Security Council

On behalf of the members of the Security Council Security, I would like to condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack that took place in Nice, France, on the evening of 14 July, the French national holiday, during which more than 80 innocent people, including many children, were killed and dozens wounded. I also want to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and my deepest sympathies to the injured, as well as strong solidarity with the French people. (spoke in English) This and other recent attacks, including the terrorist attacks this month in Bangladesh, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, have affected countries and people from all over the world. The members of the Security Council express their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the peoples and the Governments of the countries affected. I now invite Council members to rise to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the victims.

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Iraq to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Ján Kubiš, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2016/590, which contains the eleventh report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution 2107 (2013), as well as to document S/2016/592, which contains the fourth report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 2233 (2015). I now give the floor to Mr. Kubiš. Mr. Kubiš: With a deep feeling of sorrow, I join the Security Council in strongly condemning the terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Nice. I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and the people of France. The recent strategic victories against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Fallujah and Qayyarah and the progress made in cutting off ISIL forces in Hawjia have once again proved that Iraqis are capable of defeating Da’esh, with support from the international community. Following the liberation of Fallujah, Prime Minister Al Abadi sent senior delegations to provide briefings on Iraq’s progress against Da’esh to a number of States, notably to the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with an invitation to join forces in the fight against this increasingly global threat to international peace and security. The need for cooperation and mutual support has never been more apparent. As you mentioned, Mr. President, hundreds of civilians were recently killed in a spate of attacks attributed to ISIL in Iraq, Turkey, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. Progress against Da’esh has now put liberation of Mosul firmly on the agenda. As preparations continue, with increased focus and acceleration, a point of importance for us is that Prime Minister Al Abadi has prioritized United Nations-supported humanitarian operations and has requested the international community to urgently provide the necessary financing. Together with planning the military aspects, the Government and the local actors need to accelerate political planning for the day after the liberation, while addressing issues of governance, law and order and political management of Mosul and the rest of Ninewah governorate. I note the increased coordination between Baghdad and Erbil and encourage continued efforts to that end. Also, any international assistance must be fully coordinated with the Government of Iraq and must respect the principle of the sovereignty of Iraq. On 28 June, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the parliamentary sessions of 14 and 26 April were nullified. That decision means that the situation reverts to the pre-14 April status quo, with Speaker Al-Jubouri maintaining his position, while the five ministerial appointments of the 26 April session need to be revisited. The Parliament returned from recess and held plenary sessions on 12 and 13 July. Also today, tens of thousands supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in Baghdad in support of reforms and security and against corruption. In the past weeks, protests against the Government also emerged in response to the deteriorated security situation in Baghdad in the wake of terrorist attacks — notably in Karrada on 3 July, which victimized hundreds of civilians, a barbaric act that all of us condemned in strongest possible terms. Of concern are repeated calls, supported by many politicians, to conduct retaliatory executions of those convicted of terrorist acts. The need for Iraqi political and community leaders, in particular the Council of Representatives, to prioritize reconciliation based on a single vision and coordinated approach remains a matter of considerable urgency to ensure that the post-Da’esh phase in Iraq’s history be more stable, secure and prosperous than in the past. Sustainable peace and security can be achieved only with a historic compromise that puts an end to the divisive policies of intolerance, inequality and political and social injustice. I continue to call on the Government to also take specific steps to promote women’s rights and their participation in politics and national reconciliation processes as part of the reform process, as well as to support the victims of conflict-based sexual violence more effectively. In the Fallujah operation, the Government gave unprecedented priority to protecting the lives and dignity of civilians. The military assisted civilians in identifying safe escape routes and facilitated the extraction of civilians from war zones. A week into the operation, the Prime Minister announced that the battle would be slowed to better ensure the safety of civilians trapped inside the city and used by ISIL as human shields. That made a difference. Nearly 90,000 civilians took the decision to leave, and have made it to safety under some of the most difficult and perilous conditions imaginable. That is also a political statement. Notwithstanding all of that, since the announcement of the Fallujah military operation, on 22 May, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has received credible reports of human rights violations and crimes, including torture and killings, disappearances and other allegations of mistreatment of those detained, committed by elements of the popular mobilization forces and the Iraqi security forces operating in the Fallujah area, notably during the initial phases of the operation. For example, UNAMI has registered statements supporting claims that 95 men remain unaccounted for after they were intercepted by forces affiliated to popular mobilization forces while leaving their homes in Al-Sejar area on 25 May, while another 643, men including boys, remain missing since 5 June after they were intercepted by mobilization-affiliated forces while leaving Saqlawiyah. On 6 June, Prime Minister Al Abadi announced the setting up of a committee to investigate violations and crimes. In my meeting with Mr. Al Abadi last Monday, I reiterated the message delivered to the Prime Minister by the Secretary-General in his telephone call on 26 June, namely, that it was imperative that the committee took swift action to identify the whereabouts of the missing men and boys and to secure their safe release or transfer to lawful Government authorities. The authorities must hold accountable any individual who may have been responsible for any violations that have been committed. Also, those lessons from Fallujah shall be taken into account while planning liberation of Mosul. A newly published UNICEF report reveals that the number of children in danger of death, injury, sexual violence, abduction or recruitment into armed groups in Iraq increased by 1.3 million in 18 months. I urge the Government of Iraq to establish as soon as possible a high-level inter-ministerial committee to ensure coordination and dialogue between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations on all issues with regard to grave violations of children’s rights. The retaking of Fallujah should not cast doubt on the remaining ability of ISIL to conduct devastating attacks in different areas of the country, despite its consistent losses of manpower, command structure, morale, local support and territory. While the Dae’sh’s governance project in Iraq is collapsing, the group has increasingly resorted to brutal insurgency tactics using suicide bombers. The pattern of reinvigorated urban terrorism with a sectarian focus, notably the attacks against civilian targets and infrastructure in Baghdad, is indicative of that trend. Luckily, so far, they have failed in their efforts to re-ignite sectarian confrontation. Providing and guaranteeing law and order and security to all citizens of Iraq is a top responsibility of the respective State organs and institutions and must remain their prerogative. With the progress in fighting Da’esh, reforming Iraqi security institutions and ensuring that the State has full control of all armed groups becomes a priority. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated further since the start of the military operation for Fallujah, with 640,000 persons currently displaced persons in Anbar governorate alone. Nationwide, more than 10 million Iraqis require some form of humanitarian assistance, including 3.4 million people who have been displaced since the rise of ISIL in 2014. Although the humanitarian appeal for 2016 requested $861 million, as I brief the Council today it is only funded at 38 per cent. A reallocation of existing resources is under way, but more funding is urgently needed, not only for the current emergency response but also for the anticipated requirements arising from the Mosul liberation campaign, where the humanitarian effort could cost as much as $1 billion. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that the Mosul operation will be the largest and most sensitive humanitarian crisis in the world in 2016, and it is vital that resources are made available now to make timely preparations possible. The impact of underfunding on the crisis in Iraq is significant. The patience of host communities is disappearing and the distrust in the Government is growing. Prospects for stability and reconciliation after ISIL are put at risk. The United Nations efforts to help stabilize areas newly liberated from ISIL are expanding. That includes Ramadi, and will also soon include Fallujah. Stabilization efforts can only expand further after the threat of improvised explosive devices and the explosive remnants of war has been addressed. The United Nations Mine Action Service is working in Iraq with partners to address explosive contamination. It also urgently requires financing in the amount of a minimum of $300 million over the next three years. With regard to the Kuwaiti file, I would like to welcome the new dynamics, determination and political will to achieve results that the Iraqi Ministry of Defence has shown since taking over the technical overview of the missing Kuwaiti persons dossier. New momentum was also evident in the efforts of the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs to locate missing Kuwaiti property. Thousands of Kuwaiti books are being prepared for official handover to the Government of Kuwait. During his recent visit to Kuwait on 26 June, the Secretary-General, in his meeting with the Amir of the State of Kuwait, commended Kuwait for its consistent support for Iraq, while he reconfirmed the United Nations continuing resolve to see progress on the file. The Government of Iraq, in turn, has to abide by its international obligations and strive to achieve concrete results on this very important matter. The world must recognize that Iraq requires more, not less, international support at this critical juncture. The pledging conference organized in support of Iraq to be held in Washington, D.C., on 20 July is a sign of the international community’s continued commitment to a stable and peaceful Iraq and its recognition of the sacrifices that Iraq and its people bear in fighting the Da’esh terrorist group. While the international community is ready to offer assistance, Iraqis must implement substantive reforms, in particular economic, institutional and anti-corruption reforms that will put their country on the road to recovery and improve the lives of Iraqis. People demand genuine change.

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

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Japan on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and today we indeed see that Japan has made a great deal of effort in organizing today’s meeting. I also want to thank France for the work it carried out during its presidency of the Security Council. On behalf of my delegation, I also want to express our sincerest condolences to the French people following the abominable terrorist attack that took place yesterday, which resulted in the deaths of a large number of civilians who were celebrating the 14 July French national holidayin the city of Nice in the south of France. We wish to express our sincerest sympathies to the families of the victims, and we pray to God the Almighty for the recovery and health of those who were injured. The Iraqi Government wishes to express sympathy to the Government and the people of France in the fight against terrorism, takfirism and all forms of extremism. We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ján Kubiš, and his team for all the assistance provided through the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), both Baghad and New York. I thank him for his very productive efforts. The Iraqi Government is making every possible effort to fight terrorism, notably in improving the capacities of the security forces and regaining all the territories that were only recently taken by Da’esh terrorist gangs. That is happening thanks to the command and supervision of the General Commander of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister of Iraq. My Government acknowledges that the Iraqi army and security services have truly succeeded in liberating the city of Fallujah, whereby we have been able to regain control of a number of villages and neighbourhoods in the city and consequently recover the city centre, formerly under the control of Da’esh. We continue in our efforts to allow internally displaced persons to return safely to their cities, in particular through our work in removing anti-personnel mines. Over the past several weeks, we have fought to liberate Rutbah city, the town of Baghdadi and the road between Haditha and Heet, breaking the siege imposed on Haditha since 2014. We also liberated city of Trebil on the border between Iraq and Jordan. That city will be soon be reopened, as well as the points of entry that will allow refugees to return home. We will be able to recommence trade between the two brotherly countries of Jordan and Iraq. Through the assistance of the international coalition, the Iraqi Government was able to liberate approximately 60 per cent of territory formerly under the control of Da’esh terrorist groups. We are also carrying out preparatory efforts to liberating Mosul. As the Council is aware, certain operations are already under way under the supervision of the Joint Operations Command, and several villages have already been retaken in the first phase. The Government has already put in place a number of plans to ensure stability in the various areas that have been liberated. In particular, the Government has created stability by providing basic services for the population in general and security services for displaced citizens who seek to a safe return to their places of origin. Thanks to the assistance of the international coalition and funds from United Nations Development Programme, we have been able to make progress towards building a more stable Iraq. More than 700,000 Iraqis have returned to their homes in zones liberated from Da’esh and other terrorist groups. Once again, thanks to significant financial resources provided by the international coalition, we have been able to ensure the security of those areas before displaced persons had begun to return. We have also been able to provide basic services to those people so that they can return to normal life. Iraq condemns in the strongest possible terms efforts of some Arab and non-Arab media to manipulate information on events through a strong sectarian bias in their reporting. That is exactly what Da’esh has been trying to do through its policies designed to incite hatred. Of course, Iraqis opposed the different terrorist organizations that infiltrated the region, and it was this Iraqi opposition that led to the liberation of Fallujah from the hands of Da’esh. The liberation was a victory for all Iraqis regardless of their community of origin or religious affiliation. The liberation of Fallujah allows us to return to a path of national cohesion. Fallujah is, first and foremost, an Iraqi city, and the people of Iraq love and respect that city much more than any of the Da’esh terrorists do, especially since the citizens of Fallujah saw hunger, suffering and death when the city was under Da’esh’s control. It is now time to apply resolution 2178 (2014), on foreign terrorist fighters, in order to halt the flow into Iraq of such fighters, who come from more than 120 States Members of the United Nations. We also need to cut off the sources of financing for these groups, including the illicit trade in antiquities and Iraqi oil. We must stop — at the source — logistical aid, medical assistance and arms from reaching to terrorists. The Iraqi Government would like to stress the importance of the commitments that the international community has made, in particular commitments made in Security Council resolutions, with respect to impunity. Some groups associated with Da’esh still enjoy a certain degree of impunity, while flows of financial assistance continue to reach them and other groups associated with Da’esh. Governments of the world need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraq in its fight against terrorism, in particular by providing a firm stance against all groups and entities that are providing financial assistance to terrorists. In that regard, the Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs presented an official inquiry to the Government of Saudi Arabia in order for light to be shed on why Saudi officials permitted Saudi non-governmental organizations to send funds to terrorist groups in Iraq under the pretext that the aid was for the children of Fallujah. We would recall that Security Council resolutions are legally binding on all States around the world and that they are to be respected without exception. That is essential. There can be no exceptions. The Iraqi Government asks all of the countries of the world and the relevant United Nations sanctions committees to respect these binding decisions, work to limit the terrorist capacities of Da’esh and cut off all sources of financing that these terrorist groups enjoy. In addition, we would like to remind the members of the Security Council that it is extremely important that they call on Turkey to withdraw its forces from Iraq. Turkish forces have violated not just an independent State’s sovereignty, but also other principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Turkey should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Iraq and refrain from interfering in Iraq’s domestic affairs. Iraq has not violated the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Turkey. We call on the Security Council to order Turkey to immediately withdraw its forces from Iraq, in particular those that made incursions into Iraqi territory without obtaining any authorization whatsoever from the Iraqi Government. The Government and the people of Iraq would like to thank all the States members of the international coalition, in particular the United States of America and the members of the European Union, as well as all other countries beyond the international coalition, for the efforts they have made to date to fight terrorism. We also thank them for the logistical support they have extended to Iraqi security forces in the context of full coordination among forces, which has been crucial to protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We recognize in particular the efforts made to restore stability in the areas retaken from Da’esh by Iraqi forces. It is now incumbent upon us to ease the humanitarian crisis facing all the internally displaced people in Iraq. We need to mitigate the immediate risks coming from the presence of mines and explosive devices left behind by Da’esh’s criminal gangs. We must provide the basic services that people need and create opportunities for their employment. We are grateful to the United Nations and its specialized agencies for the efforts made to provide the Iraqi Government with the support it needs in addressing the domestic situation. We call upon all the States of the world to continue financing these assistance programmes in Iraq. Iraq is working tirelessly to improve its relations with Arab countries and other countries in the region. Proof of this is the improvement in our relationships with Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. We also continue to maintain relations with the Syrian Government. The Government of Iraq is committed to making progress on the issue of the missing Kuwaiti citizens and archives. Our national committees are working diligently to determine what happened to the Kuwaiti reported missing. A technical sub-committee has met, as has a Tripartite Committee, which recently held its forty-second meeting, with a view to finding out what had become of the missing Kuwaitis. On 23 May, a meeting was held in Kuwait to discuss developments related to potential burial sites for some of the missing. Since then, the Iraqi authorities have continued their exhumation work on remains at 1,300 sites around Al-Kumaisia, but we have not yet found any evidence of Kuwaiti bodies at the sites in question. We must therefore re-evaluate the witness statements received that attested to the kidnapping of Kuwaitis. We will also have to re-assess information provided by witnesses at certain Kuwaiti bases. Announcemts will be placed in the Kuwaiti media to call for witnesses who may be able to provide credible information. All of this is with a view to carrying out furhter exhumation work in areas identified by the witnesses. To that end, the Iraqi Defence Ministry has developed a plan for the second half of this year. Iraq expresses its profound gratitude to the State of Kuwait, to the Amir and to the country’s Government and the people for postponing the payment of compensation amounting to $4.6 billion until the agreed-upon date of 1 January 2018. Iraq is committed to protecting and repatriating the residents of Camp Hurriyah. In that connection, we express our appreciation for the efforts of Ms. Lute to find a lasting solution to this issue. I would like to inform the Security Council of the desire of the Government of the Republic of Iraq to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq for one year, in line with the statement made by Prime Minister Al Abadi and the letter addressed by Foreign Minister Al-Jaafari to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon dated 11 May 2016, and in accordance with the letter and spirit of the provisions set out in resolution 1770 (2007). Finally, we thank Special Representative Ján Kubiš and his team for their efforts in advising the Iraqi Government. We appreicate the activities undertaken by UNAMI for a unified and stable Iraq, free from terrorism. We condemn the killing of a UNAMI staff member, and we would like to inform the Council that te competent Iraqi authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators of that crime in order to bring them to swift justice.

I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.