Security Council Authorizes Continued Maintenance of Iraq Escrow Account, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2335 (2016)

The Security Council today authorized the Secretary-General to continue to maintain the escrow account authorized by resolution 1958 (2010), and to retain the funds contained therein until 30 June 2017, at which time all remaining funds would be transferred to the Government of Iraq.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2335 (2016) under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the 15-member Council also requested that the Secretary-General continue to pursue implementation of paragraph 7 and other relevant aspects of resolution 1958 (2010).

Paragraph 4 of resolution 1958 (2010) authorized the Secretary-General to ensure the retention of $20 million from the Iraq Account in the escrow account until 31 December 2016, exclusively for United Nations expenses relating to the orderly termination of the residual activities of the oil-for-food programme.  Paragraph 5 authorized the Secretary-General to ensure that up to $131 million of the Iraq Account were retained in the escrow account for the purpose of providing indemnification to the United Nations, its representatives, agents, and independent contractors for a period of six years with regard to all activities in connection with the Programme since its inception.

Michele Sison (United States), whose delegation submitted the text, said that the short-term extension brought the United Nations a step closer to closing the book on the programme and to tying up a few outstanding issues.  The Government of Iraq and the United Nations had made progress in several areas, including some legal issues, she said, adding that the Government of Iraq should see today’s extension as the Council’s unwavering support for closing the file once and for all.

The Security Council also took note of a letter (document S/2016/1126) dated 29 December 2016 from the Secretary-General to the President of the Council.

The meeting began at 10:02 a.m. and ended at 10:05 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2335 (2016) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its resolution 1958 (2010),

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Reaffirms its call in paragraph 2 of resolution 1958 (2010) for the Government of Iraq to provide without delay payments referred to therein;

“2.   Authorizes the Secretary-General to continue to maintain the escrow accounts authorized in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of resolution 1958 (2010) and to retain the funds in those accounts until 30 June 2017, at which time all remaining funds are to be transferred to the Government of Iraq;

“3.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue implementation of paragraph 7 and other relevant aspects of resolution 1958 (2010);

“4.   Requests the Secretary-General to report on implementation of this resolution no later than 30 March 2017 and with a final report three months after the transfer of any remaining funds pursuant to paragraph 2 to the Government of Iraq, unless otherwise authorized by the Security Council;

“5.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”