18 February 2010
UNITED NATIONS -- A UN official late Wednesday said Iraq's endeavour to get out from under Chapter 7 "is not progressing" in the Security Council and that it will materialize only if Iraq and Kuwait settle their differences bilaterally.
"In any case, it is not the UN which will do that. It will be as a result of an accord between Kuwait and Iraq. It all depends if both countries reach an agreement," the official said.
He added that "it is difficult. The conditions put forward by Kuwait are clear: recognition by the Iraqi Parliament of the border, which, apparently Iraq does not want to accept for the moment, that's why the Kuwaitis are concerned." "There is stagnation, and everybody awaits the elections in Iraq to see if progress can be made. In any case, the dynamics belong to the Iraqis and the Kuwaitis to reach an agreement," he stressed.
Asked if the Security Council will heed the Iraqi request for an independent investigation of the terrorist attacks masterminded by Baathists living in Syria, the official said "No. The council will not respond, because there are a number of countries, such as Russia and China, which are opposed, and the US believes Iraq made a mistake when it wanted to involve the UN in this matter.
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