Home
UN ready to assist Kuwait, Iraq normalize relations - official
Politics 12/6/2011 9:22:00 PM
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- A UN official on Tuesday offered to help normalize Iraq's relations with Kuwait, "with the support of the Security Council," while an Iraqi official affirmed that his government is committed to solving all unresolved issues with Kuwait which are a "top priority" for his Government.
UN Special representative for Iraq Martin Kobler told the Security Council in an open meeting that the "UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and myself, personally, stand ready to assist, including by exploring new avenues to address the stand still between the two countries and facilitate progress towards Iraq's full compliance with, and eventual exit from, Chapter VII, while providing Kuwait with the necessary safeguards and assurances it is looking for".
Kobler, who was recently appointed to replace Ed Melkert, indicated that both countries share a "difficult past," and although the Secretary-General's report of 2009 envisaged a roadmap for the normalization of Iraq's international status, "there has been, however, little progress".
He added that he has encouraged the Iraqi government to "quickly implement Iraq's outstanding Chapter VII obligations, as outlined in the roadmap, in order to open the door for the early normalization of Iraq's status in the international community by the Security Council which is "now long overdue".
"Further efforts are therefore needed to promote confidence between the two countries and facilitate solutions to address outstanding bilateral issues. I am encouraged by the resolve that both Iraq and Kuwait have demonstrated to improving bilateral relations," he noted.
He expressed hope that following the forthcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait, which was scheduled for this month and now postponed because of the resignation of his Kuwaiti counterpart, "the two sides will be able to resume the work of the joint Ministerial Working Committee in the near future".
He noted that although both countries attach a great deal of importance to a letter by Al-Maliki in which he reaffirmed Iraq's land and maritime borders, in accordance with Council resolution 833 of 1993, "they responded positively to my suggestion that the focus for the time being should be on the implementation of Iraq's Chapter VII obligations on a priority basis e.g. border (signs) maintenance, compensation and relocation of farmers".
He said he requested the Iraqi Government to "seriously consider implementing border-related issues and offered to make the resumption of good neighborliness between Iraq and Kuwait on the Mission's priority".
Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Hamid Al-Bayati told the Council "we would like to affirm that Iraq is committed to solving all unresolved issues with our neighbour Kuwait".
He said these unresolved issues are "a top priority for Iraq," and affirmed that the relationship between Iraq and Kuwait is "developing positively".
Regarding Kuwait's Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, Al-Bayati said "we assert that we are dealing with the issue of the port through official channels and collaboration with Kuwaiti side"
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
THEN THIS ONE.......
UN ready to assist Kuwait, Iraq normalize relations - official
Politics 12/6/2011 9:36:00 PM
UNITED NATIONS -- Kobler described the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq later this month as an "important milestone" in Iraq's history, as the country "rebuilds and strengthens its relations with regional and international powers".
He conceded that there are challenges ahead and "many seem concerned by what the future may entail".
However, he said, the US withdrawal represents an opportunity for all Iraqis to prove to themselves and to the world that they can build a peaceful and better future for their country, and an opportunity for all political leaders to respond to the legitimate aspirations of their constituencies and bring democracy, political stability and economic prosperity forward.
He also conceded that the task ahead will require further progress on the security front, praising the Iraqi Security Forces for assuming the full control of the security of the country during the last few months despite the terrorist attacks which affect the lives of hundreds of citizens across the country.
"After the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, it is of particular importance that democratic standards, including respect for rule of law, in relation to electoral processes and human rights are safeguarded and further advanced. There must not be a roll back," he insisted.
On this issue, Al-Bayati told the Council that the next year "will bring great challenges and responsibilities for the Iraqi Government after the US forces withdrawal by the end of this year".
However, he added, the "strategic framework agreement between Iraq and the US will highlight the relations between the two countries in the next stage on all political, economic, technical, cultural, and scientific levels".
He told the Council that Iraq has "worked hard" during the past few months "to improve its defensive capabilities to stand in the face of terrorist attacks, to protect internal security and to save democracy in Iraq".
He said the Arab Summit will be held in Iraq next March, as scheduled.
"It is the right time to hold the Arab summit, because it is very sensitive and important for the Arab world after the changes that happened in the region, " he said.
On the Oil sector, Al-Bayati said that after "decades of wasting the wealth of the natural gas" associated with Iraq's Oil, the Southern Gas Company has signed an agreement of principles with Shell and Mitsubishi Oil companies last October to establish a joint company to benefit from the natural gas in Basra.
He indicated that crude oil exports for the month of September totaled 63.1 million barrels with an average daily export output of 2.1 million barrels, and that the Oil Ministry is currently aiming at increasing its production levels to 2.9 million barrels a day, close to this year's goal of three million barrels a day.
Kobler finally appealed to Iraq to extend the deadline to shut down Camp Ashraf, which hosts some 3,400 Iranian opponents to the regime in Tehran, beyond December 31st.
Iraq has repeatedly stated its intention to close down the camp by the end of this year and to transfer its residents to another location until countries are found outside Iraq where they can resettle.
"There is real danger of confrontation and even violence unless a mutually acceptable solution is achieved," Kobler stressed.
He said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is "ready to begin the verification and interviews for the purposes of refugee status determination. However the process will take time to complete. Clearly, the situation cannot be fully resolved before the December 31st deadline".
"I therefore appeal to the Government of Iraq to extend this deadline in order to permit adequate time and space for a solution to be found. This would also helpfully lower the existing tensions," he said.
Kobler also appealed to governments worldwide to "step forward and offer to accept Camp Ashraf residents to resettle in their countries".
He said he is traveling to Belgium later today to discuss the issue with Government officials.
On the other hand, he welcomed Iran's readiness to receive those residents who express a desire to voluntarily return to their home country with the assurance that their welfare and safety will be respected. (end) sj KUNA 062136 Dec 11NNNN
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[b]
Politics 12/6/2011 9:22:00 PM
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- A UN official on Tuesday offered to help normalize Iraq's relations with Kuwait, "with the support of the Security Council," while an Iraqi official affirmed that his government is committed to solving all unresolved issues with Kuwait which are a "top priority" for his Government.
UN Special representative for Iraq Martin Kobler told the Security Council in an open meeting that the "UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and myself, personally, stand ready to assist, including by exploring new avenues to address the stand still between the two countries and facilitate progress towards Iraq's full compliance with, and eventual exit from, Chapter VII, while providing Kuwait with the necessary safeguards and assurances it is looking for".
Kobler, who was recently appointed to replace Ed Melkert, indicated that both countries share a "difficult past," and although the Secretary-General's report of 2009 envisaged a roadmap for the normalization of Iraq's international status, "there has been, however, little progress".
He added that he has encouraged the Iraqi government to "quickly implement Iraq's outstanding Chapter VII obligations, as outlined in the roadmap, in order to open the door for the early normalization of Iraq's status in the international community by the Security Council which is "now long overdue".
"Further efforts are therefore needed to promote confidence between the two countries and facilitate solutions to address outstanding bilateral issues. I am encouraged by the resolve that both Iraq and Kuwait have demonstrated to improving bilateral relations," he noted.
He expressed hope that following the forthcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to Kuwait, which was scheduled for this month and now postponed because of the resignation of his Kuwaiti counterpart, "the two sides will be able to resume the work of the joint Ministerial Working Committee in the near future".
He noted that although both countries attach a great deal of importance to a letter by Al-Maliki in which he reaffirmed Iraq's land and maritime borders, in accordance with Council resolution 833 of 1993, "they responded positively to my suggestion that the focus for the time being should be on the implementation of Iraq's Chapter VII obligations on a priority basis e.g. border (signs) maintenance, compensation and relocation of farmers".
He said he requested the Iraqi Government to "seriously consider implementing border-related issues and offered to make the resumption of good neighborliness between Iraq and Kuwait on the Mission's priority".
Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Hamid Al-Bayati told the Council "we would like to affirm that Iraq is committed to solving all unresolved issues with our neighbour Kuwait".
He said these unresolved issues are "a top priority for Iraq," and affirmed that the relationship between Iraq and Kuwait is "developing positively".
Regarding Kuwait's Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, Al-Bayati said "we assert that we are dealing with the issue of the port through official channels and collaboration with Kuwaiti side"
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
THEN THIS ONE.......
UN ready to assist Kuwait, Iraq normalize relations - official
Politics 12/6/2011 9:36:00 PM
UNITED NATIONS -- Kobler described the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq later this month as an "important milestone" in Iraq's history, as the country "rebuilds and strengthens its relations with regional and international powers".
He conceded that there are challenges ahead and "many seem concerned by what the future may entail".
However, he said, the US withdrawal represents an opportunity for all Iraqis to prove to themselves and to the world that they can build a peaceful and better future for their country, and an opportunity for all political leaders to respond to the legitimate aspirations of their constituencies and bring democracy, political stability and economic prosperity forward.
He also conceded that the task ahead will require further progress on the security front, praising the Iraqi Security Forces for assuming the full control of the security of the country during the last few months despite the terrorist attacks which affect the lives of hundreds of citizens across the country.
"After the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, it is of particular importance that democratic standards, including respect for rule of law, in relation to electoral processes and human rights are safeguarded and further advanced. There must not be a roll back," he insisted.
On this issue, Al-Bayati told the Council that the next year "will bring great challenges and responsibilities for the Iraqi Government after the US forces withdrawal by the end of this year".
However, he added, the "strategic framework agreement between Iraq and the US will highlight the relations between the two countries in the next stage on all political, economic, technical, cultural, and scientific levels".
He told the Council that Iraq has "worked hard" during the past few months "to improve its defensive capabilities to stand in the face of terrorist attacks, to protect internal security and to save democracy in Iraq".
He said the Arab Summit will be held in Iraq next March, as scheduled.
"It is the right time to hold the Arab summit, because it is very sensitive and important for the Arab world after the changes that happened in the region, " he said.
On the Oil sector, Al-Bayati said that after "decades of wasting the wealth of the natural gas" associated with Iraq's Oil, the Southern Gas Company has signed an agreement of principles with Shell and Mitsubishi Oil companies last October to establish a joint company to benefit from the natural gas in Basra.
He indicated that crude oil exports for the month of September totaled 63.1 million barrels with an average daily export output of 2.1 million barrels, and that the Oil Ministry is currently aiming at increasing its production levels to 2.9 million barrels a day, close to this year's goal of three million barrels a day.
Kobler finally appealed to Iraq to extend the deadline to shut down Camp Ashraf, which hosts some 3,400 Iranian opponents to the regime in Tehran, beyond December 31st.
Iraq has repeatedly stated its intention to close down the camp by the end of this year and to transfer its residents to another location until countries are found outside Iraq where they can resettle.
"There is real danger of confrontation and even violence unless a mutually acceptable solution is achieved," Kobler stressed.
He said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is "ready to begin the verification and interviews for the purposes of refugee status determination. However the process will take time to complete. Clearly, the situation cannot be fully resolved before the December 31st deadline".
"I therefore appeal to the Government of Iraq to extend this deadline in order to permit adequate time and space for a solution to be found. This would also helpfully lower the existing tensions," he said.
Kobler also appealed to governments worldwide to "step forward and offer to accept Camp Ashraf residents to resettle in their countries".
He said he is traveling to Belgium later today to discuss the issue with Government officials.
On the other hand, he welcomed Iran's readiness to receive those residents who express a desire to voluntarily return to their home country with the assurance that their welfare and safety will be respected. (end) sj KUNA 062136 Dec 11NNNN
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
[b]
