SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES MNF-I

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 002215 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IZ UNSC SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES MNF-I ROLLOVER USUN NEW Y 00002215 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) On November 28, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1723, extending for twelve months the mandate of the Multinational Forces in Iraq (MNF-I),the Development Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board. The text of UNSCR 1734 is at para 2, Ambassador Bolton,s intervention is at para 3 and highlights of other interventions are at para 4. ¶2. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF RESOLUTION 1723 PP1. The Security Council, PP2. Welcoming the formation of a national unity government in Iraq with a detailed political, economic and security program and a strong national reconciliation agenda and looking forward to the day Iraqi forces assume full responsibility for the maintenance of security and stability in their country, thus allowing the completion of the multinational force mandate and the end of its presence in Iraq, PP3. Welcoming the progress made to date in the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces as well as in the transfer of security responsibilities to those forces in Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces and looking forward to the continuation of that process during 2007, PP4. Recalling all of its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq, PP5. Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq, PP6. Reaffirming also the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future and control their own natural resources, PP7. Welcoming the continuing work of the Government of Iraq towards a federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified Iraq, in which there is full respect for human rights, PP8. Welcoming the vital role played by the Government of Iraq in continuing to promote national dialogue and reconciliation in pursuit of an atmosphere in which sectarianism is totally rejected, including the National Reconciliation Plan announced by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki, stressing the importance of the rapid implementation of the plan, and reaffirming the willingness of the international community to work closely with the Government of Iraq to assist these reconciliation efforts, PP9. Recognizing the International Compact with Iraq, an initiative of the Government of Iraq to create a new partnership with the international community and to build a strong framework for Iraq's continued political, security and economic transformation and integration into the regional and global economy, and welcoming the important role that the United Nations is playing by jointly chairing the Compact with the Government of Iraq, PP10. Calling upon the international community, particularly countries in the region and Iraq's neighbors, to support the Iraqi people in their pursuit of peace, stability, security, democracy, and prosperity, and noting that the successful implementation of this resolution will contribute to regional stability, PP11. Demanding those who use violence in an attempt to subvert the political process should lay down their arms and participate in the political process, and encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue to engage with all those who renounce violence, PP12. Reaffirming that acts of terrorism must not be allowed to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition, and further reaffirming the obligations of Member States under resolution 1618 (2005) of 4 August 2005 and other relevant resolutions and international conventions with respect, inter alia, to terrorist activities in and from Iraq or against its citizens, PP13. Recognizing the request conveyed in the letter of 11 November 2006 from the Prime Minister of Iraq to the President of the Council, which is annexed to this resolution, to retain the presence of the multinational force in Iraq, and affirming the common goals therein: Iraqi assumption of recruiting, training, equipping, and arming of the Iraqi Security Forces; Iraqi assumption of command and control over Iraqi forces; and the transfer of responsibility for security to the Government of Iraq, USUN NEW Y 00002215 002.2 OF 003 PP14. Recognizing the importance of consent of the sovereign Government of Iraq for the presence of the multinational force and of close coordination and partnership between the multinational force and that government, PP15. Welcoming the willingness of the multinational force to continue efforts to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq, including participating in the provision of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, as described in the letter of 17 November 2006 from the United States Secretary of State to the President of the Council, which is annexed to this resolution, PP16. Recognizing the tasks and arrangements set out in letters annexed to resolution 1546 (2004) of 8 June 2004 and the cooperative implementation by the Government of Iraq and the multinational force of those arrangements, PP17. Affirming the importance for all forces promoting the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq to act in accordance with international law, including obligations under international humanitarian law, and to cooperate with the relevant international organizations, and welcoming their commitments in this regard, PP18. Recalling the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 14 August 2003, and affirming that the United Nations should continue to play a leading role in assisting the Iraqi people and government with further political and economic development, including advising and supporting the Government of Iraq, providing strong support in developing the International Compact with Iraq, contributing to coordination and delivery of reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance, and promoting the protection of human rights, national reconciliation, as well as judicial and legal reform in order to strengthen the rule of law in Iraq, PP19. Recognizing that international support for security and stability is essential to the well-being of the people of Iraq as well as the ability of all concerned, including the United Nations, to carry out their work on behalf of the people of Iraq, and expressing appreciation for Member State contributions in this regard under resolution 1483 (2003), resolution 1511 (2003),resolution 1546 (2004) and resolution 1637 (2005), PP20. Recognizing that the Government of Iraq will continue to have the primary role in coordinating international assistance to Iraq and reaffirming the importance of international assistance and development of the Iraqi economy and the importance of coordinated donor assistance, PP21. Recognizing the significant role of the Development Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board in helping the Government of Iraq to ensure that Iraq's resources are being used transparently and equitably for the benefit of the people of Iraq, PP22. Stressing the responsibility of the Iraqi authorities to undertake all appropriate steps to prevent attacks on the diplomatic personnel accredited in Iraq in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, PP23. Determining that the situation in Iraq continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, PP24. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, OP1. Notes that the presence of the multinational force in Iraq is at the request of the Government of Iraq and reaffirms the authorization for the multinational force as set forth in resolution 1546 (2004) and decides to extend the mandate of the multinational force as set forth in that resolution until 31 December 2007, taking into consideration the Iraqi Prime Minister's letter dated 11 November 2006 and the United States Secretary of State's letter dated 17 November 2006; OP2. Decides further that the mandate for the multinational force shall be reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007, and declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the Government of Iraq; OP3. Decides to extend until 31 December 2007 the arrangements established in paragraph 20 of resolution 1483 (2003) for the depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq USUN NEW Y 00002215 003.2 OF 003 of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas and the arrangements referred to in paragraph 12 of resolution 1483 (2003) and paragraph 24 of resolution 1546 (2004) for the monitoring of the Development Fund for Iraq by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board; OP4. Decides further that the provisions in the above paragraph for the deposit of proceeds into the Development Fund for Iraq and for the role of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board shall be reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007; OP5. Requests that the Secretary-General continue to report to the Council on UNAMI operations in Iraq on a quarterly basis; OP6. Requests that the United States, on behalf of the multinational force, continue to report to the Council on the efforts and progress of this force on a quarterly basis; OP7. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. ¶3. (U) Begin text of the Explanation of Vote. The United States notes the request of the Iraqi government for the continuing support of the Multinational Force in Iraq in helping it face the current security challenges and welcomes the Security Council's speedy adoption of this resolution to extend for an additional 12 months the mandate set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, as well as the arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board. The MNF-I continues to play a vital role in the security and stability of Iraq. It is also working in close partnership with the Iraqi government toward the development of Iraq's ability to assume responsibility for the country's security. The United States remains committed to a unified, democratic and prosperous Iraq and looks forward to the continued cooperation of the international community in support of Iraq's future. ¶4. (U) Following Ambassador Bolton,s intervention at para 3, UK PermRep Jones-Parry delivered the following statement: "The resolution we have adopted today is a unanimous response by the Security Council to a request from the Government of Iraq. This resolution extends for 12 months the Multinational Force mandate on the terms set out in resolution 1546. As with resolution 1647, this resolution comes with the important assurances that the Iraqi government may, at any time, seek a review of the arrangements or the termination of the MNF mandate. The United Kingdom will continue working in close partnership with the Iraqi government, both bilaterally and as a contributor to the Multinational Force. We will continue to assist in the progressive transfer of security responsibilities to the Iraqi security forces as soon as possible. The Multinational Force has already been able to hand over two provinces, Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar, to Iraqi control during this summer. Conditions permitting, we look forward to notable progress in the next year." The Russian PermRep took the floor, and said Russia supported the text, although it noted two basic concerns. First, Russia emphasized the importance of providing security for accredited diplomatic personnel. Second, the UNSCR did not adequately reflect the importance of the political process, especially recent meetings of regional groups like the League of Arab States in Cairo in 2005 and Sharm-el Sheikh in 2004. The Russian PermRep characterized the situation in Iraq as "complex" and called for renewed efforts at national reconciliation. France was the last to speak. The French Deputy PermRep said France supported the technical rollover of the MNF-I mandate, and expressed concern over the worsening security situation. He said France supported a "clear horizon for withdrawal" and was pleased that French concerns were taken into account in the text. He reiterated Russia,s call for a focus on political reconciliation, and said France supported the Sharm-el Sheikh and Cairo meetings. BOLTON