S/PV.9642 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2024/413, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2024/368, which contains the fortieth report of the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 4 of Security Council resolution 2107 (2013), and document S/2024/369, which contains the report of the Secretary- General on the implementation of resolution 2682 (2023). The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2732 (2024). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

The United States welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution (resolution 2732 (2024)), which renews the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) through the end of 2025. As penholder, we appreciated the constructive contributions from our fellow Council members and the Government of Iraq to ensure that the mandate clearly reflected an orderly and responsible wind-down of UNAMI. It is particularly important that the mandate recognizes the role that UNAMI can play in providing technical support for elections, promoting and protecting human rights and facilitating engagement between Iraq and Kuwait to resolve outstanding issues. We thank outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, for her counsel on priorities for UNAMI’s remaining work. We also express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Volker Perthes and his team for producing the independent strategic review, which helped guide the revision and renewal of the mandate. The mandate validates the report’s conclusions that many of UNAMI’s core political functions remain relevant, as well as that no United Nations political mission is meant to be permanent. We all recognize that Iraq has changed dramatically in recent years and that UNAMI’s mission needed to be realigned as part of our commitment to fostering a secure, stable and sovereign Iraq. Iraq and UNAMI have much to be proud of. And we, as members of the Council, will continue to monitor further progress towards achieving important milestones in the Secretary- General’s forthcoming reports and recommendations. The United States again thanks Council members for their attention and efforts during this final mandate renewal for UNAMI.

The Russian Federation voted in favour of the resolution (resolution 2732 (2024)) on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). What is most important for us is that the United States penholders on this issue took into account the priorities expressed by the host country. The document clearly indicates that UNAMI will fully complete its work by 31 December 2025, and by the end of 2024 an agreement should already be reached on a joint plan for the drawdown and technical liquidation of the Mission. Its mandates will be limited to assisting national efforts in areas that Baghdad considers most important. We trust that the Secretariat will coordinate closely with the Government of Iraq on all issues related to the timely and orderly withdrawal of the Mission. We are convinced that, in the 20 years since its establishment, UNAMI has fully realized its potential to assist in the restoration of Iraqi statehood and that the people of Iraq are now ready to assume full responsibility for the country’s political future. We express our firm support for Iraq’s sovereignty and oppose any interference in the country’s internal affairs. That is an imperative. We highly appreciate Iraq’s readiness to build mutually beneficial relations with its neighbours in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. In that context, Iraq and Kuwait deserve particular support for their determination to resolve all outstanding issues between them as soon as possible, namely, the repatriation of the remains of Kuwaiti citizens and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. We will continue to provide Baghdad with our full support and are committed to further strengthening friendly Russian-Iraqi relations. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): The United Kingdom voted in favour of this resolution, which renews the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq for a final 19-month period (resolution 2732 (2024)). The Mission has made an important contribution to Iraq over the past 20 years. Now is the time for a transition to a new partnership between Iraq and the United Nations. We are pleased that the resolution prioritizes support to electoral assistance, women’s political participation and human rights during the transition period. It is also important that the opportunity for progress on Kuwaiti missing persons be realized during the transition. We look forward to further updates on that and are ready, if necessary, to consider further options for Council action. We thank the United States, as penholder, for its hard work, and all Council members for their constructive approach.

China voted in favour of the resolution (resolution 2732 (2024)) on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Since its establishment, in 2003, UNAMI has made significant contributions to Iraq’s reconstruction and development. As the country benefits from a steadily improving domestic situation and becomes more capable in political governance, it is time for UNAMI to be given a streamlined mandate and embark upon a gradual withdrawal process. Respecting the sovereignty of the countries concerned and taking on board their views are the sine qua non conditions whereby United Nations special political missions are established and operate in the first place. On 8 May, the Iraqi Prime Minister sent a letter (S/2024/378, annex) to the Secretary-General calling for UNAMI’s mandate to be terminated on 31 December 2025, with specific requirements outlining streamlining, transition and liquidation. It was on that basis that the Council members conducted intensive consultations and agreed on the arrangements for the final phase of UNAMI’s work, as set out in the resolution just adopted. The resolution sets out a specific timetable for the official termination of the mandate. China hopes that, in consultation with the Government of Iraq, the Secretary-General will prepare a feasible plan for the withdrawal of the Mission’s personnel and the liquidation of its assets as required by the resolution, so that the Mission can begin its work in those areas as soon as possible and complete its withdrawal in a phased, safe, orderly and timely manner. As part of that process, we encourage the Mission to engage in closer communication with the Government of Iraq with respect to its wishes, so as to ensure a smooth transition and bring the Mission’s work to a successful conclusion. With regard to the issue of missing Kuwaitis and Kuwaiti property, we look forward to the Secretary- General making recommendations and presenting them to the Council for an appropriate follow-on mechanism, as called for in the resolution.

France would like to thank the United States for its efforts to arrive at a text that takes into account the positions of all the members of the Security Council as well as the expectations of Iraq. The unanimous adoption of this resolution (resolution 2732 (2024)), which we welcome, is an illustration of those efforts. Since it was created by the Security Council, in 2003, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has played an essential role in providing assistance to Iraq in a number of areas, while fully respecting its sovereignty. A new chapter is now beginning for Iraq. France voted in favour of resolution 2732 (2024), which provides for a progressive and orderly liquidation of the Mission by the end of 2025, in accordance with the will of the Iraqi authorities. It is essential that the liquidation be done in close coordination between Iraq and the United Nations teams, and we encourage Iraq to coordinate with the teams to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. The issue of missing Kuwaiti persons and property, including the national archives, is an important part of UNAMI’s work. We must continue to pay close attention to it, including after the closing of UNAMI, as provided for in resolution 2107 (2013). France encourages Iraq and Kuwait to work towards a resolution of this humanitarian issue as soon as possible.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council — Algeria, Mozambique and Sierra Leone — as well as my own country, Guyana (A3+). The A3+ welcomes the unanimous adoption of the resolution before us today, which charts a new course for the United Nations presence and engagement in Iraq (resolution 2732 (2024). This demonstrates the Security Council’s unity and resolute support for Iraq as it continues on its path of recovery, reconstruction and democratic consolidation. The resolution reflects the progress made by the Iraqi Government and its people, as well as Iraq’s increasing self-reliance and stability. We will continue to encourage regional dialogue and cooperation to support Iraq’s long-term stability and prosperity. To conclude, we wish to congratulate the United States of America, in its capacity as penholder, for steering the negotiations in a transparent and inclusive manner. The constructive engagement from all Council members was vital in reaching this unanimous resolution and paves the way for its effective implementation.