PRESS STATEMENT ON UNMOVIC, MITROVICA, UNIKOM BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s press statement on the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), Mitrovica and the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) by the President of the Security Council, Martin Belinga-Eboutou (Cameroon):

During its consultations of 3 October, the Security Council heard reports in turn from Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC, and Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the talks they had had on 30 September and 1 October in Vienna with the Iraqi delegation concerning practical arrangements preparatory to the return of the United Nations to Iraq.

Members of the Council thanked Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei for the information they had provided and took note of the conclusions they had drawn from their discussions with the Iraqi authorities.

After hearing a brief statement from the Secretary concerning the situation in Mitrovica (Kosovo), the Council reiterated its support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Michael Steiner, and welcomed the

seven-point proposals he had made to the citizens of Mitrovica on 1 October.

At the start of the meeting, the Council decided to extend for six months the mandate of UNIKOM.

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