SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ-KUWAIT

 

The following Security Council statement to the press on Iraq-Kuwait was read out today by Council President Johan Verbeke ( Belgium):

On 6 June, members of the Security Council received a briefing from Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Coordinator, on the twenty-fourth report of the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).  Council members expressed their full support for Ambassador Vorontsov’s work and for his continued efforts in pursuit of his mandate.

Council members shared the views expressed by the Secretary-General in his report, and strongly condemned the execution of Kuwaiti and third country nationals by the previous Iraqi regime, in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.  Security Council members agreed that those responsible for these horrendous crimes should be brought to justice.

Council members again expressed their deepest condolences to all of the families of those missing persons that had now been identified.  Members of the Council noted the recent positive identification of further human remains and the repatriation of others from Kuwait to Iraq.  They also expressed their continuing concern for the plight of the families of those missing persons whose whereabouts were still unknown.

Members of the Council stressed the importance of the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee, and noted that the Tripartite Commission’s plan of action aimed at resuming field operations in Iraq is being implemented.

Council members welcomed the positive cooperation of the Governments of Kuwait, Iraq and other members of the Tripartite Commission including provision of mutual assistance among them.  Council members were confident that all parties, in particular Iraq and Kuwait, could work towards constructive arrangements to enable a satisfactory solution to all of the outstanding humanitarian aspects covered by Ambassador Vorontsov’s mandate.

Members of the Council were grateful to the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for facilitating the joint Kuwaiti-Iraqi mission to Amman from 13 to 15 May.

Council members noted with regret that there had been no further developments relating to the location of the missing Kuwaiti national archive.

Council members agreed to keep Ambassador Vorontsov’s mandate under review and recalled that Iraq continues to have international obligations, as set out in paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

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For information media • not an official record