UN/IRAQ: SYG LETTER REGARDING UNMOVIC MANDATE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000836 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC PGOV UNMOVIC IZ SUBJECT: UN/IRAQ: SYG LETTER REGARDING UNMOVIC MANDATE On April 19, the UNSC President circulate to UNSC members a letter received the same day from SYG Annan regarding the mandate of the UN Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC). Text of letter follows. Begin text: Dear Mr. President, I have the honour to refer to Security Council resolution 1284 (1999) which established, as a subsidiary body of the Council, the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). Reference is also made to the related resolutions 687 (1991) and 706 (1991). I should like to draw your attention to the recently concluded 2004-2005 un-audited financial statements for the Iraq Escrow Account particularly as they relate to UNMOVIC. In those statements, UNMOVIC incurred total expenditures of $31.7 million against an income of $11.7 million - mostly interest income. The shortfall (20 million) was covered from the reserves and fund balances. The reserves and fund balances which, at the beginning of the biennium stood at $353 million, were further reduced by $200 million that was transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq, and $22.7 million that was used to settle the outstanding arrears of assessed contributions that the government of Iraq had with the United Nations ($20.3 million) and the IAEA ($2.5 million). Consequently, the reserves and fund balances now stand at $113.9 million. In the meantime, the current UNMOVIC budget for six months (1 January - 30 June 2006) stands at $6.4 million. If the costs are maintained at the current level, about $25.5 million will be needed for this biennium (2006-2007). I should also like to draw your attention to my report to the General Assembly on mandating and delivering: analysis and recommendations to facilitate the review of mandates (A/60/733). The text of paragraph 117 reads as follows: "The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) was established under Security Council resolution 1284 (1999) to verify the disarmament of Iraq of biological and chemical weapons and missiles and other means of delivery with ranges greater than 150 km, and to monitor Iraq's compliance with its obligations not to use, develop, construct or acquire such weapons. UNMOVIC is widely seen as having accumulated significant experience, including in the area of biological weapons and means of delivery, constituting expertise that does not exist elsewhere in the multilateral system. As the situation in Iraq evolves, A Security Council review of the UNMOVIC mandate may be warranted, including examination of whether and how the United Nations could utilize certain areas of the Commission's expertise such as its roster of trained technical experts." In the light of the above, the Council is invited to consider undertaking a review of the mandate incorporated in Security Council resolution 1284 (1999). Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Signed: Kofi A. Annan End text. BOLTON