THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S QUARTERLY DEBATE ON

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ UNSC
SUBJECT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S QUARTERLY DEBATE ON
UNAMI/IRAQ

1. (SBU) Summary: On February 26, the Security Council held
its quarterly debate on UNAMI and Iraq, with the
participation of SRSG Staffan de Mistura and Iraqi PR Bayati.
De Mistura reprised the major themes taken from the recent

UN report on UNAMI/Iraq: successful Iraqi-led elections,
increasing stability in Iraq, and a focus in the coming
months on disputed internal boundaries as well as Iraq,s
relations with the region and the world. Bayati echoed de
Mistura,s description of the elections, saying they were a
"turning point in Iraq,s progress in building a new
democracy." Council members generally were optimistic as
well, and congratulated both Iraq and the UN for their work
in preparing for and holding the elections. Many members
specifically praised the establishment of the Iraqi
Commission for Human Rights. Russia and Libya were more
reticent in their praise of the successes of the last few
months; the Russian PR said "progress is indisputable but it
is premature to give way to euphoria." End summary.

DE MISTURA,S INTERVENTION


2. (SBU) De Mistura focused largely on the successful holding
of provincial elections, saying that Iraq has emerged from
this period "sovereign and rising to expectations." He
commended the Iraqi Electoral Commission and concluded that
the elections and their results were widely seen as "credible
and transparent." Looking to the next few months, de Mistura
said that lingering tensions between Arabs and Kurds must be
addressed; they have had an outsized impact on the Iraqi
political scene, impeding progress on the oil law, revenue
sharing and constitutional review. He said he detected
momentum during a recent visit to Kirkuk "to explore locally
generated options regarding the administrative future of
Kirkuk." He said UNAMI would continue to work closely with
the Article 23 Committee and Iraqi political leaders to
achieve progress on disputed internal boundaries. UNAMI will
present reports on the remaining 11 districts in the disputed
northern areas in the coming weeks, in consultation with the
Iraqi government and all concerned parties.


3. (SBU) De Mistura said UNAMI would also address a number of
regional issues related to Iraq: the Iraq Compact, a support
mechanism for regional cooperation based in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Iraq-Kuwait relations especially as related
to outstanding Security Council resolutions, and Iraq-Iran
efforts on demining and drug traffic control along their
shared border. He added that UNAMI would continue to address
humanitarian issues such as the return of refugees and IDPs.
De Mistura concluded by saying that there is ground for
optimism in Iraq, especially given that Iraq has asserted its
sovereignty and security has improved. He thanked member
states for their strong and encouraging statements of support
for the UNAMI mission.

IRAQ,S INTERVENTION


4. (SBU) Bayati echoed de Mistura,s conclusion that the
elections were a turning point in the building of Iraq,s
democracy. He also raised the expiration of the MNF-I
mandate, thanked those who participated, and said it too was
a turning point for Iraq. Bayati noted the recent increase
in the return of Iraqi refugees/IDPs, and said Iraq expects
500,000 to return in 2009. Turning to social/economic
matters, Bayati outlined a number of improvements, such as a
decrease in employment, the establishment of a social
security network, and the increase of sanitation and
electrical systems. He specifically noted the visits to Iraq
by French President Sarkozy and German FM Steinmeier, and
noted his government,s strong support for the UN,s review
of all Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq.

INTERVENTIONS BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL


5. (SBU) All members praised the recent Iraqi provincial
elections and echoed the prevailing sentiment that they were
a turning point in Iraqi democracy. Russia provided a
discordant note in stressing that voter turnout was low and
the elections were only a first step towards national
reconciliation. Russian PR Churkin said progress was evident
but this should not "give way to euphoria." Many countries,
especially Mexico, Costa Rica, Libya and Burkina Faso,
praised the establishment of the Iraqi Commission on Human
Rights, saying that this represented an important step in
ensuring the Iraqi government,s respect for human rights of
all Iraqis, including detainees.


6. (SBU) Several members - Mexico, Russia and Libya - praised
the expiration of the MNF-I mandate and urged that the Iraqi
security forces continue to improve their capabilities.
Croatia warned against a "security gap" between the
capabilities of Iraqi forces and the withdrawal of former
MNF-I contributors. The UK said it would continue the
withdrawal of its troops from the Basrah area, with the goal
of full withdrawal by the summer. Libya specifically praised
Syria and Jordan for their efforts in rebuilding Iraq, and
said foreign troops should withdraw as quickly as possible in
order to "decrease instability" within Iraq.


7. (SBU) Ambassador Rice joined the Council,s unanimous
praise of the conduct of the Iraqi elections, as well as its
praise of the efforts of the UN and SRSG de Mistura. She
looked forward to the upcoming national elections and noted
that the U.S. will move "responsibly and safely" to reduce
its military presence. She outlined the larger regional
context to U.S. engagement in Iraq: persuading Iran and Syria
to become constructive regional actors, seeking to end
Iran,s ambition to acquire an illicit nuclear capacity and
its support for terrorism, addressing the security needs of
Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations
of the Palestinians. (Note: Following the conclusion of the
debate, Iran circulated a letter to the Security Council
responding to Ambassador Rice,s statement, in which it
denied any support to terrorism and said its nuclear program
"has been, is, and will remain absolutely peaceful." End
note)
Rice