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17:21 GMT
obligations towards Kuwait
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- The Security Council on Wednesday lifted
the remaining restrictions on the import of weapons and peaceful nuclear
technology to Iraq, decided that Baghdad shall continue to pay five percent of
its oil export sales to the Compensation Fund, and reminded it that it still
has obligations it must "quickly" fulfill towards Kuwait.
In a statement read out on behalf of the 15 members, Council President US
Vice-President Joe Biden, called on Iraq to "quickly fulfill its remaining
obligations under the relevant Chapter VII Security Council resolutions
pertaining to the situation between Iraq and Kuwait".
The Council also welcomed progress made by the Governments of the two
countries towards the resolution of the outstanding issues, and encouraged
their further cooperation.
Iraq has still to pay compensations to the victims of the invasion of
Kuwait in August 1990 by the Saddam regime, agree to the maintenance of the
border posts between the two countries, account for the missing Kuwaiti and
third country nationals and return the property stolen by Iraqi forces during
the invasion.
The Council also welcomed Iraq's "reintegration into the region and
encourages Iraq and all regional states to deepen and broaden their
relationships and to conduct those relationships in a spirit of partnership
and cooperation".
It reaffirmed its commitment to Iraq's independence, sovereignty, unity and
territorial integrity, emphasized the importance of Iraq's stability and
security for its people, the region, and the international community, and
reaffirmed that no terrorist act can reverse a path towards peace, democracy,
and reconstruction in Iraq.
It supported the inclusive political process and power-sharing agreement
reached by Iraqi leaders to form a representative national partnership
government that reflects the will of the Iraqi people, and encouraged them to
pursue a federal, democratic, pluralistic and unified Iraq based on the rule
of law and respect for human rights.
It welcomed the positive developments in Iraq and "recognizes that the
situation now existing in Iraq is significantly different from that which
existed at the time of the adoption of resolution 661 of 1990... The Council
also welcomes the important progress Iraq has made in regaining the
international standing it held prior to the adoption" of that resolution.
Acting under Chapter VII, the Council also adopted three draft resolutions.
By the first resolution, the Council decided to terminate on June 30, 2011,
instead of later this month as originally planned, the arrangements, including
immunity, for depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) the proceeds
from export sales of Iraqi oil and natural gas, as well as the arrangements
for the monitoring of the Fund by the International Advisory and Monitoring
Board (IAMB).
The Council also decided that this extension of arrangements and immunity
for the DFI for six months, until next June 30, is the final one, after Iraq
affirmed not to request any further extensions.
It finally decided that, although the proceeds from Iraqi oil and natural
gas exports will not be deposited in the DFI after June 2011, five percent of
those proceeds shall continue to be deposited in the Compensation Fund for the
victims of the invasion of Kuwait.
It further urged the Iraqi Government to work closely with the
Secretary-General to finalize the "timely and effective transition to a
post-development fund mechanism" by or before June 2011.
By the second resolution, the Council decided to terminate the weapons of
mass destruction, missile, and civil nuclear-related restrictions imposed on
Iraq by resolution 687 of 1991.
In order to allay China's fear and convince it to vote in favour of the
resolution, the Council urged Iraq to ratify the Additional Protocol to the
Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement "as soon as possible," and decided to
review in one year's time progress made by Iraq on its commitment to do so,
and to meet its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
By the third resolution, on which France abstained, the Council requested
the Secretary-General to "take all actions necessary to terminate all residual
activities" of the Oil-for-Food Programme, noting that all letters of credit
with outstanding claims of delivery have expired according to their terms.
The Council also authorized the Secretary-General to establish an escrow
account to ensure that USD 20 million are retained from the oil revenues until
December 2016, exclusively for the UN expenses related to the orderly
termination of the residual activities of the Programme, including the
expenses of the Office of the UN high-level coordinator for the Kuwaiti
missing and property issues.
The Council further authorized the Secretary-General to ensure that up to
USD 131 million are retained in the escrow account in order to provide the
indemnification of the UN, its representatives, agents, and independent
contractors for a period of six years with regards to all activities in
connection with the Programme since its inception.
The Council meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Iraq, Turkey,
Japan and other high-level officials. (more)
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