Jwdwrd
12-01-2010, 10:58 AM
Ban expresses hope Iraq will quickly fulfil obligations towards Kuwait once
Politics 12/1/2010 9:50:00 PM
new Gov't is formed UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope on Wednesday that Iraq will quickly move, as soon as a new government is formed, to fulfil all its UN obligations, particularly towards Kuwait, including issues related to the border, missing Kuwaitis and property, so that it can regain its international status among nations.
In a report released today updating the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) since last July, Ban said "it is my hope that once the new government is formed, Iraq will expeditiously fulfil its outstanding obligations arising from Security Council resolutions, particularly issues related to Kuwait, including the return of missing Kuwaiti nationals and property." As an important confidence-building measure, he added, "I also encourage Iraq to reaffirm its commitment to Security Council resolution 833 of 1993 with respect to its land and maritime boundary. I firmly believe that progress on these fronts would enable the Security Council to consider the steps that need to be taken for the full normalization of the international status of Iraq." Ban said that further to discussions his Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert held with Iraqi officials on October 26, the Iraqi Government "had as yet to confirm its readiness to continue the Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Maintenance Project, mandated by Security Council resolution 833, and contribute its 600, 000-share of the additional annual funding required for the project services to begin by March 2011.
Ban also said Melkert met in Kuwait on October 26-28 with the Kuwaiti High-Level officials to discuss issues related to developments in and the way forward on implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions regarding the normalization of relations between Iraq and Kuwait, mainly with respect to border maintenance, compensation and missing persons and property.
He also mentioned that Gennady Tarasov, his High-level Coordinator on the issue of missing Kuwaiti, third-country nationals and the repatriation of property, met in Kuwait on September 27 with High-Level officials who "reaffirmed their desire for good relations with Iraq and emphasized that the new Government of Iraq should make concrete and tangible progress on the ground in finding missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and archives." Tarasov traveled to both countries in late November to continue his consultations with the Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities.
Ban commended all political blocs and their leaders for engaging in a collective process and reaching agreements that "appear" to have ended the deadlock in the government formation process.
"The breakthrough represents a major milestone in democratic progress for Iraq and should pave the way for the first peaceful transition between elected governments under full Iraqi sovereignty," he added.
On the regional front, Ban said "I also strongly encourage regional neighbours to make it a priority to engage the new government of Iraq in addressing issues of mutual concern." In this regard, he welcomed the recent decision by Iraq and Syria to restore full diplomatic relations, and the Saudi initiative in support of the process of government formation and reconciliation.
"Such positive engagement will contribute to greater stability, not only in Iraq but in the region as a whole," he stressed.
Ban also expressed hope that with the formation of a new Iraqi government, the security situation in the country will improve, noting, however, that Iraq "will still remain a challenging operating environment in the foreseeable future." He recalled the recent attack on Melkert's convoy near Najaf, as well as the increased level of indirect fire attacks in Kirkuk and Baghdad where United Nations facilities are located. These are "stark reminders of the dangers that United Nations personnel face in Iraq every day," he indicated.
The ongoing United States military drawdown, he added, "is making it more difficult for the United Nations to carry out its operations in Iraq." While there has been gradual progress over the past several years in making the United Nations more self-reliant in Iraq, "certain security and logistical arrangements still being provided by the United States will need to be replaced." He also noted that the withdrawal of the United States Forces from Iraq is "likely to have a short- to medium-term effect on the security situation" in the country as a whole, and since they are no longer exposed to attacks to the same degree as previously, "it appears that armed opposition groups have changed tactics, relying more on longer-range weapons that target indiscriminately." Indirect fire attacks targeting the international zone have seen a marked increase from 29 in 2009 to over 50 thus far in 2010, he noted.
He indicated that Al-Qaida in Iraq remains "active, particularly in the Governorate of Diyala, and despite several security operations in the vicinity of Baqubah against Al-Qaida operatives, their capability remains intact." Ban finally said that last October the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a scientific survey of groundwater in Iraq to improve the capacity of the Government to address water scarcity in the country.
The project will provide the Government of Iraq with a wealth of new data on the status of groundwater, enabling it to efficiently address water shortages in the worst affected areas and improve planning of new agriculture projects. (end).
sj.tg KUNA 012150 Dec 10NNNN
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2128335&Language=en
Politics 12/1/2010 9:50:00 PM
new Gov't is formed UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope on Wednesday that Iraq will quickly move, as soon as a new government is formed, to fulfil all its UN obligations, particularly towards Kuwait, including issues related to the border, missing Kuwaitis and property, so that it can regain its international status among nations.
In a report released today updating the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) since last July, Ban said "it is my hope that once the new government is formed, Iraq will expeditiously fulfil its outstanding obligations arising from Security Council resolutions, particularly issues related to Kuwait, including the return of missing Kuwaiti nationals and property." As an important confidence-building measure, he added, "I also encourage Iraq to reaffirm its commitment to Security Council resolution 833 of 1993 with respect to its land and maritime boundary. I firmly believe that progress on these fronts would enable the Security Council to consider the steps that need to be taken for the full normalization of the international status of Iraq." Ban said that further to discussions his Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert held with Iraqi officials on October 26, the Iraqi Government "had as yet to confirm its readiness to continue the Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Maintenance Project, mandated by Security Council resolution 833, and contribute its 600, 000-share of the additional annual funding required for the project services to begin by March 2011.
Ban also said Melkert met in Kuwait on October 26-28 with the Kuwaiti High-Level officials to discuss issues related to developments in and the way forward on implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions regarding the normalization of relations between Iraq and Kuwait, mainly with respect to border maintenance, compensation and missing persons and property.
He also mentioned that Gennady Tarasov, his High-level Coordinator on the issue of missing Kuwaiti, third-country nationals and the repatriation of property, met in Kuwait on September 27 with High-Level officials who "reaffirmed their desire for good relations with Iraq and emphasized that the new Government of Iraq should make concrete and tangible progress on the ground in finding missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and archives." Tarasov traveled to both countries in late November to continue his consultations with the Iraqi and Kuwaiti authorities.
Ban commended all political blocs and their leaders for engaging in a collective process and reaching agreements that "appear" to have ended the deadlock in the government formation process.
"The breakthrough represents a major milestone in democratic progress for Iraq and should pave the way for the first peaceful transition between elected governments under full Iraqi sovereignty," he added.
On the regional front, Ban said "I also strongly encourage regional neighbours to make it a priority to engage the new government of Iraq in addressing issues of mutual concern." In this regard, he welcomed the recent decision by Iraq and Syria to restore full diplomatic relations, and the Saudi initiative in support of the process of government formation and reconciliation.
"Such positive engagement will contribute to greater stability, not only in Iraq but in the region as a whole," he stressed.
Ban also expressed hope that with the formation of a new Iraqi government, the security situation in the country will improve, noting, however, that Iraq "will still remain a challenging operating environment in the foreseeable future." He recalled the recent attack on Melkert's convoy near Najaf, as well as the increased level of indirect fire attacks in Kirkuk and Baghdad where United Nations facilities are located. These are "stark reminders of the dangers that United Nations personnel face in Iraq every day," he indicated.
The ongoing United States military drawdown, he added, "is making it more difficult for the United Nations to carry out its operations in Iraq." While there has been gradual progress over the past several years in making the United Nations more self-reliant in Iraq, "certain security and logistical arrangements still being provided by the United States will need to be replaced." He also noted that the withdrawal of the United States Forces from Iraq is "likely to have a short- to medium-term effect on the security situation" in the country as a whole, and since they are no longer exposed to attacks to the same degree as previously, "it appears that armed opposition groups have changed tactics, relying more on longer-range weapons that target indiscriminately." Indirect fire attacks targeting the international zone have seen a marked increase from 29 in 2009 to over 50 thus far in 2010, he noted.
He indicated that Al-Qaida in Iraq remains "active, particularly in the Governorate of Diyala, and despite several security operations in the vicinity of Baqubah against Al-Qaida operatives, their capability remains intact." Ban finally said that last October the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a scientific survey of groundwater in Iraq to improve the capacity of the Government to address water scarcity in the country.
The project will provide the Government of Iraq with a wealth of new data on the status of groundwater, enabling it to efficiently address water shortages in the worst affected areas and improve planning of new agriculture projects. (end).
sj.tg KUNA 012150 Dec 10NNNN
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2128335&Language=en