U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N. ZALMAY
KHALILZAD BRIEFS MEDIA OUTSIDE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
UN Photo# 150044/Paulo Filgueiras |
U.N.
SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXPANDED ROLE IN IRAQ:
10/8/2007
(MaximsNews.com, U.N.)
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Media Stakeout: Informal comments to
the Media by the Permanent Representative of the United States of America,
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, on the situation in Iraq.
UN
WEBCAST TV VIDEO - 8 minutes 
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Media Stakeout: Informal comments to
the Media by the Permanent Representative of the Iraq to the United
Nations, Ambassador Hamid Al Bayati, on the situation in Iraq.
UN
WEBCAST TV VIDEO - 5 minutes ] [ Arabic ] [ English ]
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Media Stakeout: Informal comments to
the Media by the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on the situation in Iraq
and other matters.
UN
WEBCAST TV VIDEO- 6 minutes
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Security Council: The
situation concerning Iraq. The situation concerning the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
UN
WEBCAST TV VIDEO - English: 53 minutes
UN
WEBCAST TV VIDEO - Original Language: 53 minutes |
UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com@ U.N. /
- 10 AUGUST 2007 – The
Security Council met today to consider the situation in Iraq and the following
are summaries of statements made today to the Security Council. A complete
summary of the meeting will be published shortly:
Statement
by Secretary-General
United
Nations Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON said the Organization was deeply committed
to helping the Iraqi people and he was pleased to have the opportunity to
enhance, where possible, its contributions in such crucial areas as national
reconciliation, regional dialogue, humanitarian assistance and human rights.
“A
peaceful and prosperous future is for Iraqis themselves to create, with the
international community lending support to their efforts,” he said, adding
that the United Nations looked forward to working in close partnership with
Iraq’s leaders and people to explore how the Organization could further its
assistance under the terms of the resolution.
Recalling
colleagues killed in the bombing of the United Nations Baghdad headquarters four
years ago, including mission chief Sergio Vieira de Mello, he paid tribute to
all the brave men and women who continued to serve the Organization in Iraq.
“As we move forward, their safety and security will remain a paramount
concern.”
ZALMAY
KHALILZAD ( United States) said the resolution’s adoption marked an
important new phase in the Organization’s role in Iraq, expanding its
involvement by providing increased assistance to the Iraqi people and their
Government on domestic reconciliation that would lead to a national compact.
While domestic reconciliation was the responsibility of the Iraqi people and
Government, the United Nations could lend specific expertise to the process and
help promote regional understanding in support of reconciliation, a process
already under way with meetings in Baghdad, Sharm el-Sheikh and elsewhere.
The updated mandate marked another important step along the road to increased
regional and international support for Iraq.
The
United Nations would also help marshal resources to assist those Iraqis affected
by the humanitarian crisis, he continued. In fulfilling the tasks set out
in the resolution, United Nations staff in Iraq had made, and would make, a
vital contribution to the country’s future stability. The United States,
as part of the Multinational Force, would do its part to ensure that the
security and resources needs of the United Nations were met, so that the
Organization’s expertise could be fully deployed to help address the
challenges in Iraq. While grateful to the United Nations for expanding its
role to help the Iraqi people shape their future, the United States would
continue to shoulder all its own responsibilities to assist the Government and
people.
“We
are fully dedicated to success in Iraq, and our commitment to Iraq, to the
region, to the United Nations and to the rest of the international community
remains,” he said. The United States looked forward to standing side by
side with the Iraqi people for a stable, secure Iraq, at peace with itself and
its neighbours. Despite the international community’s differences over
Iraq, it shared the same vision for the country’s future, as was clearly the
case today. “This forward-looking resolution, adopted unanimously by the
Security Council, is an important signal that the page has turned.” The
resolution underscored the widespread belief that what happened in Iraq had
strategic implications not only for the region, but for the entire world.
Hopefully the resolution would be a springboard to greater international support
for Iraq’s Government and people.
EMYR
JONES PARRY ( United Kingdom) also welcomed the Council’s decision,
saying success in Iraq would depend on the collective efforts of the entire
international community with Iraq in the lead, particularly towards ensuring
implementation of the Iraq Compact. The United Kingdom would continue to
stand by Iraq as a friend, and continue as well to discharge its duties fully.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and its dedicated staff
had been steadfastly carrying out their duties for some four years, often during
dark and dangerous times.
He
expressed the hope that the resolution, which entrusted the Mission with new
responsibilities, would bolster United Nations efforts to play an enhanced role.
Among the new tasks were the Organization’s supporting role in promoting
dialogue and, in due course, reintegration programmes, in its constitutional
review and in facilitating dialogue between Iraq, its neighbours and the wider
region. The resolution also took into account the humanitarian challenges
with which the United Nations could help, both inside and outside the country,
human rights and advancing judicial and legal reform.
Highlighting
elements of the text concerning the security of UNAMI personnel, he said the
United Kingdom supported the Secretary-General’s plans to build an integrated
and secure base in Iraq from which the United Nations could undertake it’s
expanded and continuing duties in safety. In all its tasks, the Mission
must be coherent and its efforts coordinated with those of other United Nations
and international agencies inside and outside Iraq. The burden of
delivering a stable and secure Iraq must be a shared one.
Noting
that he was addressing the Council officially for the final time, he said it had
been an honour and privilege to represent the United Kingdom for four years
defending the positions of its Government and putting forward its thinking.
The Council was charged with the maintenance of international peace and
security, which encompassed myriad difficult and challenges tasks. The
Council could not and did not shirk its responsibility in handling those tasks.
Indeed, the United Kingdom had worked with other members for the best solutions
and outcomes. Consensus could only strengthen the outcome of the
Council’s decisions.
At
the same time, adopting resolutions and statements was not enough, he said.
The Council must always work to ensure and reinforce positive change on the
ground that benefited the people. It must also make sure that its
decisions delivered security and peace while remembering to seek parallel
success on the relevant political tracks. Good relations between the
Council and other organs of the United Nations were also essential.
Finally, he thanked the other Council members, Secretariat personnel and the
staff at the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom for their dedication during
his tenure.
VITALY
CHURKIN ( Russian Federation) said that, over the last few years, his
country had favoured the maximum possible involvement of the United Nations in
the process of seeking a settlement in Iraq and expected UNAMI to deal with the
country’s political problems, in addition to helping the different political
factions achieve national reconciliation, unity and territorial integrity.
Hopefully, the Mission would become a tangible element in regional diplomacy to
create an atmosphere conducive to the normalization of the Iraq situation.
However,
appropriate security measures were required to ensure that the potential of the
United Nations was fulfilled, he said. The tasks before UNAMI would only
be possible if the Iraqi Government worked on ensuring peace and development and
through greater participation by the international community. In that
regard, Russia’s proposal on the holding of a meeting on Iraqi issues fully
met the requirements of an accelerated settlement of the Iraq question.
WANG
GUANGYA ( China) said the resolution was important both for Iraq and
the United Nations. Over the past four years, the Council had been holding
regular reviews of the Iraq situation in the hope of playing its due role in
finding a solution. While significant progress had been achieved, grave
challenges remained. Achieving peace was an essential premise for a
settlement of the Iraq question, but the ultimate solution would be the
country’s ability to govern itself. That would not be achieved without
the earnest assistance of regional countries.
He
said the resolution entrusted UNAMI with new responsibilities, including the
provision of assistance to Iraq and the promotion of regional dialogue, areas in
which the United Nations had a comparative advantage. China hoped the
Iraqi Government and the Multinational Force would provide the necessary
security guarantee so as to enable UNAMI to accomplish its mission. It was
also to be hoped that the parties concerned would create the necessary
conditions for the United Nations to play a role, while preserving Iraq’s
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China would continue
to support Iraq’s reconstruction efforts and hoped that the war-affected
country would embark on the road of peace and development as soon as possible.
JEAN-MAURICE
RIPERT ( France), who was welcomed by Council President Pascal Gayama
( Congo) on behalf of the other members, in turn commended the courage and
remarkable work carried out by all UNAMI staff. The situation in Iraq
continued to be of great concern, with numerous security problems and a
worsening humanitarian situation. The Council and the wider international
community must also pay close attention to the situation of refugees and
internally displaced persons, which was becoming a serious challenge for Iraq
and its neighbours.
The
Council and the international community must also work with the Government of
Iraq to isolate the forces that sought to ensure the country’s failure, he
said. States in the region must work harder to ensure Iraq’s stability
and security, and the wider international community, through the United Nations,
should strengthen its support for national political dialogue and
reconciliation. France welcomed the Council’s adoption of the text and
the strengthening of UNAMI.
~~~~~
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