SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ-KUWAIT

 

The following Security Council press statement was delivered today by Council President Marcello Spatafora ( Italy):

Members of the Security Council were briefed this morning by Angela Kane, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on behalf of Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Coordinator, on the twenty-fifth 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 strongly condemned the execution of Kuwaiti and third country nationals by the former Iraqi regime, in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.  Security Council members repeated their view 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 and noted with regret that the number of positive identifications had remained unchanged since the last report.  It also noted the repatriation of unidentified remains from Kuwait to Iraq.  Security Council members expressed deep sympathy to the families of those missing persons whose whereabouts were still unknown.

Members of the Council reiterated their strong support for the important work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee.

Council members commended the continued positive cooperation of the Governments of Iraq, Kuwait and other members of the Tripartite Commission, including provision of mutual assistance among them.

Members of the Council 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.

Council members noted with regret that there had been no further developments relating to the location of the missing Kuwaiti national archive and reaffirmed support for the intensification of efforts aimed at determining the fate of the archives.

Council members agreed to keep Ambassador Vorontsov’s mandate under review and recalled the ongoing provisions of paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

* *** *

For information media • not an official record