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15:55 GMT
NEW YORK, July 30 (KUNA) - Acting unanimously and at Baghdad's request, the Security Council on Wednesday extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for one more year , until July 31, 2015, without major changes despite the expansion of the Islamic State in vast areas of the country.
The Council called on Baghdad to continue to provide security and logistical support to the UN presence in Iraq, recognizing that the security of UN personnel is "essential" for UNAMI to carry out its work for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
It requested the UN Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months, instead of the regular four, on the progress made towards the fulfilment of all UNAMI's responsibilities.
The Council reaffirmed Iraq's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; stressed the importance of stability and security for Iraq, the region, and the international community; and expressed grave concern at the "current security situation" as a result of a "large-scale offensive" carried out by terrorist armed groups, in particular the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
It condemned the attacks perpetrated by those terrorist groups, especially the events in Anbar province last January and the city of Mosul and other parts of the country last month by ISIL in an attempt to destabilize the country and region, and warned it would impose further sanctions on those groups or those who cooperate with them.
Noting that the advance of ISIL on Iraq's sovereign territory is a "major threat" to Iraq's future, the Council insisted that the "only way to address this threat is for all Iraqis to work together by addressing the security and political needs of the country.
The Council further insisted that the "long-term" solution" to Iraq's instability will require Iraq's "political leadership to make decisions that will unite the country," and called on all political entities to overcome divisions and work together in an "inclusive and timely" political process aimed at strengthening Iraq's national unity, sovereignty and independence.
It emphasized the "importance" of the international community's support to Iraq, and urged all segments of the Iraqi population to participate in an inclusive political dialogue, and in the economic and social life of Iraq, to refrain from statements and actions which could aggravate tensions, and to reach a comprehensive solution on the fair distribution of resources.
In a letter issued on Wednesday to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and acting Foreign Minister Hussain al-Shahristani extended the Iraqi Government's wish that UNAMI mandate be extended for a further period of one year.
"Iraq urgently needs the help of UNAMI in order to provide logistical support and ensure that the displaced families can live with dignity," he said, adding that Iraq again highlights the "important" role of the United Nations, particularly UNAMI, in providing advice, support and assistance to the Iraqi people and Government.
Iraq, he added, would also like the Mission to continue to provide assistance and advice, "with the prior approval of the Government," commending the "positive and effective" role the Mission played in ensuring the success of the parliamentary elections last April, and warning that Iraq is going through a "sensitive and perilous" phase in its recent history.
He conceded that today Iraq is facing "considerable challenges" in combating terrorist groups, particularly ISIL, and that terrorist operations have caused over one million Iraqis to leave their homes and jobs in the areas controlled by the terrorist groups. (end)
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