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Iraq

UN SC, acting on Iraq's request, extends 'for last time' mandate of multinational force - resolution 1790

Attachments

SC/9207

Security Council
5808th Meeting (PM)

Recognizing the request from Iraq, the Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the multinational force in that country -- "for the last time", according to its Permanent Representative -- until 31 December 2008.

Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1790 (2007), deciding further that the mandate would be reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2008. The mandate would be terminated earlier if the Iraqi Government requested the Council to do so.

The Council also extended until 31 December 2008 the arrangements for the depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, as well as the arrangements for the monitoring of the Fund by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), deciding also that the arrangements would be reviewed at the request of the Iraqi Government or no later than 15 June 2008. Those arrangements are described in paragraphs 12, 20, 22 and 23 of resolution 1483 of 22 May 2003 (see Press Release SC/7765), and paragraphs 24 and 27 of resolution 1546 of 8 June 2004 (see Press Release SC/8117).

Iraq's request, referred to above, was contained in a letter dated 7 December from the Prime Minister of Iraq addressed to the President of the Security Council (document S/2007/738), which stated among other things that Iraq had now finished building its constitutional and legal institutions and had a Government of National Unity. The Government continued to act expeditiously to guarantee the security of Iraqi citizens and the country's stability. Iraq would assume responsibility for command and control of all Iraqi forces and the multinational force would provide support to those forces. The Government considered the current request to be the final one, and expected that the Council would be able to deal with the situation in Iraq without the need for action under Chapter VII.

Following the vote, Iraq's representative said the last few months had been a decisive test for the commitment and courage of the Government and people of Iraq, who had completed the establishment of the country's constitutional and legal institutions, having made great strides towards self-sufficiency in security. While the Iraqis would remain grateful to all countries that had assisted in its liberation, no Iraqi wanted the presence of foreign troops on their soil one day longer than necessary. However, the multinational force was essential for the coming year to complete Iraq's liberation.

The representative of the United States said Iraqis should be proud of their efforts in the past year, which had resulted in decreased violence, improved essential services and greater engagement with the region and the world. Together with the expansion of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the launching of the International Compact with Iraq, today's extension signalled the international community's recognition of the profound consequences of developments in Iraq and the progress the Iraqi people and Government had made towards self-reliance. The United States was proud of its role in helping Iraq combat the challenges of terrorism and other violence.

Before the vote, Warren Sach, United Nations Controller and designated representative on IAMB, the audit oversight body for the Development Fund, said that from inception to 31 December 2006, the Board had been informed that about $70.4 billion had been deposited from the sale of oil and oil products, and $10.2 billion from the balance of "oil-for-food" funds. A further $1.5 billion had been deposited as proceeds from frozen assets. IAMB had early on identified major issues in contracting practices and pointed to the lack of oil metering as a key element in the establishment of controls over oil revenues. Some of Iraq's oil resources had not been accounted for in the Development Fund, and had been smuggled.

Also making statements were the representatives of the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation.

The meeting started at 4:25 and adjourned at 5:05 p.m.