Iraqi efforts to come out from Chapter VII not at Kuwait''s expense -- Zebari
Politics 7/16/2009 10:15:00 AM
By Saloua Jandoubi UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (KUNA) -- Iraq is committed to all international resolutions related to Kuwait, and the Baghdad government is working to come out from under Chapter VII sanctions, but not at the expensive of Kuwait's sovereignty and security, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Speaking to KUNA Wednesday evening, he extended "a warm message of brotherhood" to Kuwait, and reaffirmed that the political and diplomatic efforts Iraq was engaged in aimed at securing an international review of these resolutions, "but this will not be at the expense of the State of Kuwait, nor its sovereignty and security." He said that it was only normal for Baghdad to take steps in the future to quell Kuwaiti concerns over this matter.
When asked what steps Iraq could take to end Kuwaiti concerns, Zebari said, "There are a number of steps that can be taken, and I think that the coming period will be important for supporting and strengthening efforts to build trust, through a series of active measures. We, in Iraq, are required to take some real initiatives to dissipate these concerns." Zebari had arrived here early this week to participate in the review of UN Security Council resolutions, imposed on Iraq under Chapter VII, in line with Resolution 1859 which was endorsed by the Security Council in later 2008.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is expected to discuss this matter with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon next Wednesday.
Zebari, in his statement, explained that the review would include the resolutions passed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, and pertained to several matters, including "the situation between Iraq and Kuwait.
" He said that he had held a series of deliberations and negotiations over this matter with the UN secretary general, experts at the UN Secretariat, as well as permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council.
These deliberations fall within the framework of the report that will be issued by the UN secretary general in the next few days, and will be followed by deliberations with the Security Council members, he said, while expecting that these talks would last a few weeks, following which would begin thinking of the next step.
On Wednesday, Zebari had met with Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad, and representatives of China, France, the US, Turkey and Libya at the Security Council.
"During our meetings, we reaffirmed the Iraqi government's keenness and commitment to all legitimate international resolutions related to the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, but Iraq is looking at a timeframe within which it can be reinstated to its natural international and legal status," Zebari said.
He said that Iraq could not remain a "prisoner" of international resolutions that were imposed on it, and that were not related to the situation between the two countries, noting that several Iraqi ministries -- among them Health, Agriculture and Higher Education Ministries -- that were unable to import required material due to the sanctions in place.
Zebari also said that Iraq was keen on constructive and positive bilateral cooperation with Kuwait, in order to solve all pending issues "with cordiality, professionalism, and a brotherly spirit, through official channels between the two friendly and neighborly countries, and not through the media." On his meeting with Kuwait's UN representative on Wednesday, Zebari said that it came to "brief him on all meetings we held and the ideas we put forth, so that they (Kuwait) may remain informed. We reaffirmed that nothing is taking place behind the curtains, and everything we do is based on transparency and frankness." As for the borders between Kuwait and Iraq, Zebari said that his country was committed to Resolution 833 and that bringing Baghdad out from under Chapter VII "will not change (Iraq's) commitment to this resolution and others of relation." He added, "There are Kuwaiti concerns, and there is some sensitivity, and there are some true humanitarian issues related to the missing (Kuwaiti) individuals. We understand this suffering and pain that the Kuwaiti people were subjected to, which is why we seek to resolve this issue and to engage in bilateral cooperation at all levels." Such cooperation, he said, could include forming a joint Kuwaiti-Iraqi field survey committee tasked with seeking the fate of the missing people, and organizing awareness programs and broadcasting information to provide maximum protection for the Kuwaitis who would be engaged in this matter.
"We have no problems over this matter. Kuwait has provided so much to Iraq and its people to liberate it from dictatorship, and I always say at official meetings that if it weren't for Kuwait, Iraq would never have been liberated from the dictator, Saddam (Hussein)," he said.
Zebari described Kuwait-Iraqi relations as being "sound," adding that there was "in my opinion, a great understanding (on the part of Kuwait) over Iraq's need to come out from under Chapter VII." This understanding, he said, was proof of the "reinstatement" of the Iraq that was known to the world "and not the Iraq of Saddam," adding that this was "a new Iraq, a constitutional Iraq that is democratic and responsible, and whose decisions are not made singlehandedly by one person, but through its institutions. It is an Iraq that is seeking to achieve maximum cooperation with all its neighbors, including Kuwait -- whose people have suffered like the Iraqi people from the former Iraqi regime." The Iraqi foreign minister explained that his country was trying to reduce its contribution to the UN Compensation Fund from five percent to one or two percent, adding that should the UN Security Council approve this reduction "then our Kuwaiti brothers must also be comfortable with this matter, and they must understand it." He noted that the stances of UN Security Council members he met with were positive, but "they all underscored the need to strengthen bilateral relations with Kuwait over pending issues, because this is the basis. We are very, very open on this matter and totally understand it." Meanwhile, Ambassador Al-Murad told KUNA, following his meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister, that Zebari reiterated Iraq's commitment to Kuwait and international resolutions related to the situation between the two countries.
He also said that Zebari expressed optimism over future cooperation between the two countries, especially in relation to border markers and property, while underscoring Baghdad's keenness for joint cooperation.
On his part, France's UN envoy Jean-Maurice Ripert told KUNA following his meeting with Zebari that France supports the idea that Iraq regained its place in the international community, but urged both Iraq and Kuwait to cooperate bilaterally, with UN help, to settle their differences.
"The sooner we can get rid of all the resolutions the better, but at the same time it has to be based on long-lasting, meaningful and sustainable understanding and agreements ... France has very good relationship with both Iraq and Kuwait and can help them get along," Ripert said.
He admitted that there were "still important difficulties but we think we can find solutions. We are waiting for the secretary general's report." "The sooner we can start working very concretely giving signs to Iraq that we will help them ... the better," he said.
Asked what signs he would give to Kuwait to allay its concerns, Ripert said, "It has to come from basically understanding and confidence between the two countries and this is what they have started and we are very impressed by the way they are doing it because it is not easy." Twenty years after the war, he noted, "we have to find a solution. The international community can only help them. It cannot substitute. But we will put pressure also on both. And we have to take our responsibility." He said there were 73 Iraq-related resolutions under Chapter VII and most of them were obsolete and should be cleaned. "My feeling is that there is a lot of good will (in the council) to do that," he said. In France, for instance, he explained, some rules and regulations concerning sanctions have been passed in implementation of council resolutions. "As long as the resolutions are in place, we cannot terminate those regulations. Legally it would be impossible and we have to wait. It's a long process." The other Security Council members who met with Zebari preferred to wait for the secretary general's report to come out before commenting to KUNA. (end) sj.ema
Politics 7/16/2009 10:15:00 AM
By Saloua Jandoubi UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (KUNA) -- Iraq is committed to all international resolutions related to Kuwait, and the Baghdad government is working to come out from under Chapter VII sanctions, but not at the expensive of Kuwait's sovereignty and security, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Speaking to KUNA Wednesday evening, he extended "a warm message of brotherhood" to Kuwait, and reaffirmed that the political and diplomatic efforts Iraq was engaged in aimed at securing an international review of these resolutions, "but this will not be at the expense of the State of Kuwait, nor its sovereignty and security." He said that it was only normal for Baghdad to take steps in the future to quell Kuwaiti concerns over this matter.
When asked what steps Iraq could take to end Kuwaiti concerns, Zebari said, "There are a number of steps that can be taken, and I think that the coming period will be important for supporting and strengthening efforts to build trust, through a series of active measures. We, in Iraq, are required to take some real initiatives to dissipate these concerns." Zebari had arrived here early this week to participate in the review of UN Security Council resolutions, imposed on Iraq under Chapter VII, in line with Resolution 1859 which was endorsed by the Security Council in later 2008.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is expected to discuss this matter with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon next Wednesday.
Zebari, in his statement, explained that the review would include the resolutions passed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, and pertained to several matters, including "the situation between Iraq and Kuwait.
" He said that he had held a series of deliberations and negotiations over this matter with the UN secretary general, experts at the UN Secretariat, as well as permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council.
These deliberations fall within the framework of the report that will be issued by the UN secretary general in the next few days, and will be followed by deliberations with the Security Council members, he said, while expecting that these talks would last a few weeks, following which would begin thinking of the next step.
On Wednesday, Zebari had met with Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Abdullah Al-Murad, and representatives of China, France, the US, Turkey and Libya at the Security Council.
"During our meetings, we reaffirmed the Iraqi government's keenness and commitment to all legitimate international resolutions related to the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, but Iraq is looking at a timeframe within which it can be reinstated to its natural international and legal status," Zebari said.
He said that Iraq could not remain a "prisoner" of international resolutions that were imposed on it, and that were not related to the situation between the two countries, noting that several Iraqi ministries -- among them Health, Agriculture and Higher Education Ministries -- that were unable to import required material due to the sanctions in place.
Zebari also said that Iraq was keen on constructive and positive bilateral cooperation with Kuwait, in order to solve all pending issues "with cordiality, professionalism, and a brotherly spirit, through official channels between the two friendly and neighborly countries, and not through the media." On his meeting with Kuwait's UN representative on Wednesday, Zebari said that it came to "brief him on all meetings we held and the ideas we put forth, so that they (Kuwait) may remain informed. We reaffirmed that nothing is taking place behind the curtains, and everything we do is based on transparency and frankness." As for the borders between Kuwait and Iraq, Zebari said that his country was committed to Resolution 833 and that bringing Baghdad out from under Chapter VII "will not change (Iraq's) commitment to this resolution and others of relation." He added, "There are Kuwaiti concerns, and there is some sensitivity, and there are some true humanitarian issues related to the missing (Kuwaiti) individuals. We understand this suffering and pain that the Kuwaiti people were subjected to, which is why we seek to resolve this issue and to engage in bilateral cooperation at all levels." Such cooperation, he said, could include forming a joint Kuwaiti-Iraqi field survey committee tasked with seeking the fate of the missing people, and organizing awareness programs and broadcasting information to provide maximum protection for the Kuwaitis who would be engaged in this matter.
"We have no problems over this matter. Kuwait has provided so much to Iraq and its people to liberate it from dictatorship, and I always say at official meetings that if it weren't for Kuwait, Iraq would never have been liberated from the dictator, Saddam (Hussein)," he said.
Zebari described Kuwait-Iraqi relations as being "sound," adding that there was "in my opinion, a great understanding (on the part of Kuwait) over Iraq's need to come out from under Chapter VII." This understanding, he said, was proof of the "reinstatement" of the Iraq that was known to the world "and not the Iraq of Saddam," adding that this was "a new Iraq, a constitutional Iraq that is democratic and responsible, and whose decisions are not made singlehandedly by one person, but through its institutions. It is an Iraq that is seeking to achieve maximum cooperation with all its neighbors, including Kuwait -- whose people have suffered like the Iraqi people from the former Iraqi regime." The Iraqi foreign minister explained that his country was trying to reduce its contribution to the UN Compensation Fund from five percent to one or two percent, adding that should the UN Security Council approve this reduction "then our Kuwaiti brothers must also be comfortable with this matter, and they must understand it." He noted that the stances of UN Security Council members he met with were positive, but "they all underscored the need to strengthen bilateral relations with Kuwait over pending issues, because this is the basis. We are very, very open on this matter and totally understand it." Meanwhile, Ambassador Al-Murad told KUNA, following his meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister, that Zebari reiterated Iraq's commitment to Kuwait and international resolutions related to the situation between the two countries.
He also said that Zebari expressed optimism over future cooperation between the two countries, especially in relation to border markers and property, while underscoring Baghdad's keenness for joint cooperation.
On his part, France's UN envoy Jean-Maurice Ripert told KUNA following his meeting with Zebari that France supports the idea that Iraq regained its place in the international community, but urged both Iraq and Kuwait to cooperate bilaterally, with UN help, to settle their differences.
"The sooner we can get rid of all the resolutions the better, but at the same time it has to be based on long-lasting, meaningful and sustainable understanding and agreements ... France has very good relationship with both Iraq and Kuwait and can help them get along," Ripert said.
He admitted that there were "still important difficulties but we think we can find solutions. We are waiting for the secretary general's report." "The sooner we can start working very concretely giving signs to Iraq that we will help them ... the better," he said.
Asked what signs he would give to Kuwait to allay its concerns, Ripert said, "It has to come from basically understanding and confidence between the two countries and this is what they have started and we are very impressed by the way they are doing it because it is not easy." Twenty years after the war, he noted, "we have to find a solution. The international community can only help them. It cannot substitute. But we will put pressure also on both. And we have to take our responsibility." He said there were 73 Iraq-related resolutions under Chapter VII and most of them were obsolete and should be cleaned. "My feeling is that there is a lot of good will (in the council) to do that," he said. In France, for instance, he explained, some rules and regulations concerning sanctions have been passed in implementation of council resolutions. "As long as the resolutions are in place, we cannot terminate those regulations. Legally it would be impossible and we have to wait. It's a long process." The other Security Council members who met with Zebari preferred to wait for the secretary general's report to come out before commenting to KUNA. (end) sj.ema