Security Council Press Statement on Iraq/Kuwait

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Susan Rice (United States):

The members of the Security Council received a briefing from Ambassador Gennady Tarasov, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Coordinator, on the thirtieth report of the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

The members of the Security Council appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Tarasov and the important work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee during the reporting period.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the continued cooperation by the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait, and their high-level commitments to full implementation of all Iraqi obligations to Kuwait under the relevant resolutions, as well as the commitment of the new Iraqi Government to improving relations with Kuwait.  Nevertheless, the members of the Security Council stressed the need to fulfil these commitments, specifically finding Kuwaiti or third-country nationals, property and archives.  The members of the Security Council once again expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those involved.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the latest positive steps on missing persons taken by the Government of Iraq, including continued excavations in Ramadi and support for an exploratory mission of the Tripartite Commission’s Technical Subcommittee to Nasiriyeh.  The members of the Security Council also welcomed the signature on 16 September, of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Iraqi Government on the use of the Kuwaiti Government’s grant ($974,000) to achieve these objectives, as well as a proposal by Iraq’s Foreign Minister for the establishment of a technical team, through the Embassy of Kuwait in Baghdad, to support the search for the remains of missing persons.

The members of the Security Council noted that limited progress has been made on clarifying the fate of the Kuwaiti national archives.  The members of the Security Council welcomed the commitment by the Prime Minister of Iraq to establish an inter-ministerial committee to lead and coordinate efforts with regard to the Kuwaiti national archives and other properties.  The members of the Security Council urged the Government of Iraq to establish this committee without delay, and called on both parties to translate statements of goodwill into tangible outcomes that will lead to the resolution of a larger set of outstanding issues between the two countries.

The members of the Security Council supported the Secretary-General’s call for Iraq and Kuwait to continue to act in the spirit of the confidence- and cooperation-building process, which should contribute to the further strengthening of their good-neighbourly relations and enhancing of regional stability.

The members of the Security Council supported the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend the financing of the activities of the High-Level Coordinator for a further period of six months in order to build on the present momentum towards implementation of paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

The members of the Security Council expressed their willingness to consider this matter in the context of their review of the report by the Secretary-General, pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 1859 (2008).

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For information media • not an official record