YouSaid · the spoken record

Al-Bayati

lines on the record: 572
first: 2006-06-22
most recent: 2013-03-21
sittings or episodes: 33
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“By way of example, the Iraqi Mission to the United Nations has trained Iraqi youth. We have Iraqis who have come from different parts of the world, some from as far away as Australia. I have also given internships to other students in order to encourage youth and provide them an opportunity for internships in order to have a better future. They are from different nationalities and from all over the world, but the majority of them are studying in American universities.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“However, we do not deny that there are some police officers who are guilty of misconduct, as in any other country in the world. But many officers have been dismissed, and some of them were brought to justice and legal action was taken against them when cases of torture were proved. I commend Mr. Kobler for his tireless efforts to resettle the inhabitants of Camp Ashraf and Camp Hurriya. I personally commend him for his efforts to convince Albania to accept 210 of them. That is a good start. I encourage other members of the Security Council to accept more camp residents. The only solution to the problem is to resettle these people in other countries. With respect to the youth problem, I think that the Government realizes how important the problem in Iraq. I encourage the Government to have a plan.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“I think that resuming relations with Saudi Arabia is a very important step forward, and the exchange of prisoners between Iraq and Saudi Arabia is opening the door to that, as is the opening of the borders, which is also a good step forward. With regard to reopening the border checkpoints between Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, we have had several problems in the past. The most recent one was when Syrian soldiers closed the borders after a fight started between the Syrian regular army and the Syrian Free Army, and Iraq wanted to send those soldiers back from a different checkpoint. So they took them from Mosul to Anbar to send them back to Syria, when they were ambushed and killed. All of them, almost 40 Syrian soldiers and 20 Iraqi soldiers, were killed. On torture, the Constitution and the law in Iraq forbid torture.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the importance of the support of the members of the Security Council in assisting Iraq in emerging from its Chapter VII status and from the sanctions that were imposed on it due to Saddam's crime of invading Kuwait, which forced the Security Council to adopt sanctions resolutions and to consider Iraq a threat to international peace and security. Iraq today is different from Iraq before 2003, as the Secretary-General stated in his report to the Security Council (S/2013/154). Iraq must regain the status it enjoyed before 1990. Before I conclude my speech, I would like to mention a few points that Mr. Kobler addressed in his statement.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“On 26 February, our Foreign Minister welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium to discuss the improvement of bilateral relations and cooperation in combating extremism and terrorism. The visit resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on political and diplomatic cooperation between the ministries for foreign affairs of the our countries. On 4 March, the Prime Minister welcomed his counterpart from the Arab Republic of Egypt. Both sides held talks to coordinate political positions and discussed cooperation and trade relations between the two countries at the regional level.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The Prime Minister chaired the Iraqi delegation participating in the twelfth Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Cairo on 8 February. Building on Iraq's role in efforts to resolve the Syrian problem peacefully and to support the humanitarian situation in that country, Iraq participated in the donors conference held in Kuwait. It is worth mentioning that Iraq is sheltering approximately 100,000 Syrian refugees, as Mr. Kobler mentioned, spread over the cities of Iraqi Kurdistan, Anbar province and other provinces. During her visit to New York, I asked Christine McNab, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, about the status of Syrian refugee camps in Iraq, and she answered that she had visited them and that they were good.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Iraq was elected as a Vice-President of the Conference, as well as a member of the credentials committee. That affirmed Iraq's commitment to supporting international efforts to achieve a world free from chemical weapons and to ensure international peace and security. Foreign Minister Zebari participated in the Munich Security Conference that opened on 1 February. The Conference discussed the most important international policy issues and security and economic problems at the regional and international levels, including their implications and ways to face them. The Foreign Minister also participated in the ministerial-level meeting of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, held in Moscow on 20 February.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“During its presidency of the League of Arab States Summit, Iraq proposed holding the first Arab conference on legal and national awareness, which was opened in Baghdad on 10 March. The aim was to develop and consolidate legal and national awareness of the concept of citizenship and an awareness that human rights will generate affiliation, interdependence and integration into the melting pot of society. Citizenship is a right of every citizen in society, regardless ofracial, religious or sectarian affiliation. Violations of human rights open the door to wars. At the international level, Iraq participated in the seventeenth Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which was held in The Hague from 26 to 30 December 2012.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“That would pave the way to bilateral relations based on mutual respect and common interests, as well as for Iraq's exit from its Chapter VII status. In the context of Iraq's regaining its international status, with a View to building on the successful holding of several conferences in 2012, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki opened the twenty-ninth session of the Arab Council of Ministers of Housing and Construction in Baghdad on 18 December 2012. That same month, Baghdad hosted a conference on Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Israeli prisons, with the participation of 70 countries. The conference concluded with the Baghdad declaration and recommended the acceptance of Iraq's proposal to establish a fund to support Palestinian and Arab prisoners and their families. The Government of Iraq made an initial $2 million contribution to the fund.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“With regared to the Kuwaiti issue, the dispute was ended and a final settlement reached on the matter of Iraqi Airways versus the State of Kuwait through the signing of an agreement between the two sides and Iraq's payment of $500 million. On 29 January, the Iraqi Council of Ministers ratified the draft law on the agreement concerning navigation in the Khor Abdallah waterway. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoyshar Zebari visited the State of Kuwait on 27 February aboard the first Iraqi Airways aeroplane to fly to Kuwait in 23 years. A joint technical team is currently working on the border pillars maintenance project. It expects to finish its work by the end of this month, bringing to a close one of the most important issues between the two countries.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“With regard to adopting communication solutions and technology to support social and economic development, the percentage of cell phone users in Iraq has now reached 80 per cent, and will rise to 93 per cent in 2015. According to statements made available by four Internet and telephone service providers, more than 5 million Iraqis use the Internet, and Iraq has more than 25 million cell phone users. At the regional and international levels, Iraq is continuing to develop its relations with all countries of the region, especially the State of Kuwait. Iraq is making efforts to support the moderate current in the region, encouraging dialogue and steering the region away from the danger of regional interventions.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Such amounts do not include the tens of billions of dollars of investment in the energy sector. Within the framework of infrastructure projects, $5 billion were allocated to building housing projects in all parts of Iraq according to the population percentage. Several projects have been inaugurated, including the Al Saedia project in Baghdad in late November 2012. The foundation was laid for the third Khaldon housing project for families ofmartyrs in Basra in mid-February. In Najaf, another project is under construction that contains 1,100 apartments. It will be supplied by clean electricity through solar panels and will include a medical clinic, schools and kindergartens.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The European Parliament has ratified a partnership and cooperation agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the European Union. In addition, Iraq's membership was accepted by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative on 12 December 2012 after it had completed all the necessary requirements and procedures. That step was part of Iraq's efforts to enhance the company working environment in the extractive industries. Iraq is working to attract investment for reconstruction after years of neglect due to years of wars and sanctions. According to a report published in May 2012, foreign companies have invested more than $55 billion in investment projects, service contracts and other activities throughout Iraq. Direct foreign investment reached about $2 billion from being almost nothing a decade ago.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The budget allocates 29.5 per cent to energy, 19.7 per cent to security, 17.7 per cent to social services, 12.8 per cent to education and 6.8 per cent to health care. The investment portion of this year's budget is approximately 40 per cent, which is larger than in any previous budget. The thirty-ninth Baghdad International Fair was opened by the Prime Minister of Iraq in November 2012, with the participation of 1,440 foreign companies from all over the world. Bilateral agreements were signed with participating countries and companies aimed at expanding trade relations. In December 2012, Iraq ratified a framework agreement for trade and investment with the United States as a first step towards expanding trade and investment between the two countries.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“As a result of Iraq's plan to increase its oil production, at the end of 2012, the country reached second place among oil-exporting countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, after Saudi Arabia, and now stands at its highest average in the past 30 years. In 2012, the Iraqi economy grew by about 10 per cent for the second consecutive year. The International Monetary Fund expects the Iraqi economy to grow by 13.5 per cent in 2013, which would make it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Iraq Government is trying to diversify the economy and to create new job opportunities for Iraq's workforce. The Government budget for 2013 amounts to approximately $118.3 billion, with an increase of 18 per cent compared to 2012. That makes it the largest budget in Iraq's history.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The Commission finalized the approval of political entities and coalitions and has received the names of candidates in the provinces. The Commission is working on the last stage of completing the procedures for hiring polling-station employees and is finalizing all logistical matters and the printing of ballot papers. At the economic level, Iraq has succeeded in curbing inflation, achieving economic growth and increasing its oil exports. Iraq has achieved significant progress in development, according to the recent World Bank report, entitled Country Partnership Strategy for Iraq 2013-2016. In 2013, the Iraqi Government has focused on policies to support the private sector, to create job opportunities for its citizens and to stimulate economic development.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Other committees, including the Al-Ja'afari committee, which was responsible for some political dialogue, are still conducting talks with all political groups in order to try and solve the problems between all factions and to reach a consensus among Iraqi political groups and the coalition. One positive point in the political process is that the Independent High Electoral Commission has affirmed that it is moving forward with its timetable to hold the provincial council elections, which are scheduled for 20 April. The Commission is working despite the challenges to complete a special programme for the elections, in line with international standards, in collaboration with the International Electoral Assistance Team and UNAMI.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“There is a fear of the possibility of an increase in violence in the next few months as a result of the regional situation and if the current political crisis is not resolved. Although the Iraqi security forces are combating terrorist activities, many rebel groups, including Al-Qaida, are still active in parts of Iraq. The situation is still critical in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Ninewa, Salah ad-Din, Al-Anbar and other provinces. The Iraqi Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the attack on Camp Liberty on 9 February. It immediately launched an investigation to find out the perpetrators and bring them to justice and to reaffirm its resolve to take the necessary measurements to ensure the security and safety of the inhabitants of the camp.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The killing of Syrian soldiers after they had surrendered to the Iraqi authorities by armed terrorists, who crossed from Syria to Al-Anbar province on 4 March, is the best proof of a link between the armed groups across the border and the impact of the Syrian conflict on the stability of the region. The Al-Qaida terrorist group announced its responsibility for the murder of those soldiers in collaboration with the Al-Nusra Front terrorist group in Syria. Some areas inside Iraq are still witnessing acts of Violence, while others are enjoying a good level of security. Iraqi citizens are still subject to violence from terrorism, but less so than in 2011 and certainly less than the peak of sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The Prime Minister has explained his view of current events in the region and their impact on the internal situation in Iraq by stressing the adherence of Iraqis to their unity and their rejection of violence, extremism and sectarianism. We have warned several times against the spillover of the Syrian conflict, which could cause instability in the whole region. That has been echoed by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, when, on several occasions, he has warned about the repercussions of the Syrian conflict on neighbouring countries.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Over the past years, Iraq suffered several crises that finally led to a peaceful solution and positive results, such as the adoption of the Constitution, the holding of elections, the formation of the Government and the adoption of budgets. Such crises and other examples polarized the Iraqi political currents and led to long- lasting tensions. However, they ultimately followed their course and did not hinder the political process indefinitely. In other words, the struggle in Iraq moved from an armed conflict to gain power to a peaceful conflict within the framework of the Constitution and the law, as I have described in the past by saying that Iraqis have learned to shout rather than to shoot at each other.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The Ministry has also said that, on the basis of its executive responsibility, it will decisively address such attempts to destroy the unity of the county and act against such voices, in line with its mandate under the law and the Constitution, regardless of their title, social, religious or political positions. Despite that worrying situation, most demonstrations are still peaceful, as witnessed by UNAMI during its visit to Al-Anbar province in February. Like many countries that have emerged from a dictatorship, Iraq is going through a democratic transition phase that will be characterized by instability until the democratic institutions gain strength and competitive political work runs smoothly and peacefully within the framework of the Constitution.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“With regard to sectarian slogans and calls to cancel the Constitution, the Ministry of the Interior has warned that the language of sectarian incitement is considered a direct threat to the security of the nation and its people. Such language lays the foundation for a culture of hatred and the rejection of others and promotes sectarianism under the pretext of defending the rights of a certain sect. Such language, together with sectarian motives, is also responsible for the indiscriminate Violence. The Ministry has pointed out that it is condemned by the Iraqi Constitution and completely contradicts the current regulations and laws. It has warned citizens not to listen to the advocates of sectarian strife.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“On 29 January, the Council of Ministers approved the increase in the salaries of the members of the Awakening Councils, who are mostly in the western part of Iraq, to at least 500,000 Iraqi dinars a month, authorizing the Ministry of Defence to give bonuses to interrogation officers to speed up the process of releasing the detainees. Those executive procedures led to the realization of the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, including the release of around 5,500 detainees - though I would note that Mr. Kobler said 3,500 - including most of the women; the return to service of hundreds of officers from the former Iraqi army; the completion of more than 91,000 pension applications; and the lifting of the ban on 1,800 properties that belong to members of the former Baath regime.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The committee was commissioned to study the demands and to make its recommendations to the Council of Ministers. Upon the recommendations of the committee, the Council of Ministers approved the following actions: extending the deadline for those subject to the Justice and Accountability Law to submit requests for a return to service or retirement; processing pension applications for all persons subjects to the Justice and Accountability Law, except Fedayeen Saddam, Saddam commandos and members of the highest two ranks of the Baath party; authorizing the real estate registration department to accept applications to lift the freeze on the properties of officials of the former regime; activating item 12 of the Justice and Accountability Law by giving orders to ministries to accept applications for exemptions to that law in order to submit them to the Council of Ministers and the Council of Representatives for approval; requesting the High Judicial Council to authorize judges to activate the legal process for detained women in order to facilitate their release, except in cases where prohibited by law; requesting the Ministry of Justice to immediately implement release orders, and not to wait for the approval of any other authority.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“The Iraqi Government declared that the demands of the protesters should be considered and that it differentiates between legitimate and illegitimate demands based on the Constitution. Continuous governmental and parliamentarian efforts are therefore under way to respond to those demands. On 9 January 2013, the Iraqi Council of Ministers decided to form a ministerial-level committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hussein Al-Shahristani, and the membership of the ministries of justice, defence, human rights, municipalities and water resources, as well as the State Minister for Parliamentarian Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, in addition to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, to receive the legitimate demands of the demonstrators through delegations representing them.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Other demands were added later, such as abolishing the Constitution and toppling the Government. The preliminary objectives of the demonstrations deviated from the path of popular demand when the demonstrators were infiltrated by certain extremist groups aiming to stir up sectarian tensions and foment civil war. The foreign and regional players that hijacked the legitimate demands of citizens were exposed when the flag of the Free Syrian Army and portraits of foreign officers were displayed during the demonstrations. Proof of that is the support of Al-Qaida terrorist groups and the leadership of the Baath party. Izzat al-Douri, who was Vice-President during the Saddam regime, appeared on television for the first time since 2003 to announce his support for the demonstrations.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Kobler mentioned, we have a very ancient culture, which is obvious from the year being celebrated by the Assyrian community - around 7,000 years. Having reviewed the report of the Secretary- General on the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (S/2013/154), I would like to make the following comments. At the political and security levels, Iraq is witnessing a political stalemate and an exchange of accusations among some of the political blocs, while protests are continuing in a number of cities that are making a number of legitimate demands. The most notable demands are for the adoption of the general amnesty law, the abolition of the Justice and Accountability Law, which replaced the de-baathification law, and the release of detainees, especially women.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Mr. President, allow me at the outset to congratulate you and your country on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and to extend my thanks to the previous President of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, for his efforts during the month of February. I also would like to thank Mr. Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, and his team in Baghdad and New York for their commitment, dedication and tireless efforts to assist the Government and the people of Iraq. Since we are celebrating the day of Nawrooz, I would like to congratulate our Kurdish people in Iraq, who are celebrating the year 2713, and the Assyrian Christian Iraqis, who are celebrating the year 6763. I convey my best wishes to all nations that celebrate Nawrooz. As Mr.”
2013-03-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6937 (2013) · source
“Therefore, we must tirelessly continue our efforts to end Israeli violations of international law in order to achieve peace in the region. All efforts could be undermined if Israel continues to violate international law and to hamper international Arab efforts to achieve peace, as it has continued to do in recent years. We therefore call upon the international community to take immediate action in proposing a serious initiative with an established deadline and time frame for all parties, aimed at achieving two States in line with international legitimacy and with the peace process.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Arab and Palestinian hands are fully extended to ensure a just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of two States - an independent State of Palestine within the pre-l967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside the State of Israel, in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. Israel has continued to play its role as the occupying Power and to demonstrate its arrogance in the region. It has preferred that role, rather than a role aimed at establishing natural and normal relations with neighbouring States. Yesterday parliamentary elections took place in Israel. During the campaign, we heard the negative slogans of a number of parties.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“From the viewpoint ofthe Arab Group, we call upon the international community to take immediate action to compel Israel to release the Palestinian tax revenues and to refrain from such illegitimate and immoral practices. The Arab Group welcomes the positive signs that have emerged from the meetings recently held in Cairo, with the aim of accelerating reconciliation between the Palestinian factions. The Arab Group welcomes, in this context, the great efforts of Cairo and the Arab League towards Palestinian reconciliation, which is an Arab priority.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Israel must be held responsible for the health of all of the Palestinian detainees and prisoners, given that its detention policy spares no sector of Palestinian society. The Arab Group also condemns Israel's piracy through its control of Palestine's trade channels and crossings, particularly its refusal to transfer tax and customs revenues to the Palestinians. That revenue is fundamentally important to the economy of the State of Palestine, which has already suffered serious challenges due to Israeli policies limiting the movement of goods and individuals both inside and outside of Palestine. Beyond the piracy implications, the Palestinian Authority faces difficulty in paying the salaries of its civil servants, which has affected the interests of about 1 million Palestinian citizens.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Unsatisfied with their actions so far, Israeli forces also savagely acted against Palestinian activists who were demonstrating against Israeli expansionist policies and peacefully attempting to protect their land by setting up Palestinian villages that they call Bab al-Shams and Bab al-Karamah. We vehemently condemn the continuing Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their land. In 2012, the occupying Power killed 226 Palestinians, including more than 60 women and children, and injured 2,300. It also destroyed 2,100 homes and facilities and uprooted more than seven thousand fruit trees, and authorized the construction of 26,000 new housing units. Israel must realize that its continuing crimes will have negative consequences and that those who perpetrate the crimes will not escape fromjustice.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The escalation of activity, including settlement construction, led to the Israeli Government's announcement of three thousand additional units to be built in Palestinian territory, namely, East Jerusalem, and the completion of the so-called E-l settlement complex, which would isolate East Jerusalem, separate it from the West Bank and cut the geographic link between the north and the south of the West Bank. That is an additional threat made by the State of Israel, and it highlights the illegitimacy of its settlement activities. It also represents a major obstacle to the achievement ofa solution based on two States living side by side within the pre-1967 borders.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“It is high time for the world, through the United Nations and particularly the Security Council, to assume its direct responsibilities in the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly since Israel has continued to occupy Arab and Palestinian lands and to maintain its illegal and illicit activities in blatant violation of all international laws and instruments, including the building of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. In that context, the deliberate violations carried out by the Israeli Government have escalated, as if Israel is attempting to further punish the Palestinian people and their leaders in view of their diplomatic, political and legal successes at the multilateral level that have promoted Palestine to the rank of observer State to the United Nations.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“On 29 November 2012, we witnessed the historic granting to Palestine of non-member observer State status in the United Nations. It is the first major individual achievement in many years on the path to lasting and comprehensive peace and the two-State solution. It is particularly important at a time when the international community has demonstrated its incapacity to compel the occupying Power, Israel, to respect the unanimous will of the international community and to end the occupation of Palestine through ensuring the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, including those of the Security Council. It is unacceptable that, to date, the international community has continued to adopt the same approach ofmany decades in addressing the Palestinian question.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Mr. Al Bayati (Iraq) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your outstanding leadership of the presidency of the Council this month. I thank Morocco for its stewardship of the Council last month. I also wish to thank Mr. Robert Serry for his detailed briefing this morning. I welcome the presence of the Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine and his participation in this meeting. I would like to welcome the new Council members and pay tribute to the outgoing members. This is the first debate of 2013 on this issue. The Group of Arab States would therefore like to reaffirm the fact that 2013 will be a decisive turning point with regard to the Middle East, in particular the Palestinian question, which is the primary cause of the Arab world.”
2013-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6906Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The Government of Iraq also decided to give Jordan 100,000 barrels of oil as a gift to our neighbourly country to help solve the fuel shortage crisis that has caused problems there. This is an indication that prosperity in Iraq will benefit the Iraqi people and other friendly nations. In conclusion, I reaffirm Iraq's commitment to its international obligations and my Government's appreciation of the role played by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, especially the efforts of Mr. Martin Kobler and the Mission team, for the support they are providing at the request of the Iraqi Government.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“In harmony with that principle, we have adopted an open-door policy and a quest for common interests in our foreign policy. We have established Iraq's defence and military strategies in accordance with that policy. We are determined that our forces will be defensive forces, and we will strive to equip them with all necessary weapons for defensive and deterrence purposes. Foreign Minister Zebari met on 26 November with the non-resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Iraq, Mr. Fahd al-Zaid, and they agreed on the importance of the complete normalization of relations between the two countries. The two sides stressed the importance of ratifying a prisoner exchange agreement and seeking a common cooperation mechanism.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“Iraq participated in the third Arab-Latin American summit held in Lima on 2 October, with a delegation headed by Hoshyar Zebari, Foreign Minister of Iraq. The Foreign Minister delivered a statement at the opening meeting, on behalf of the presidency of the Arab summit, in which he pointed to three regional issues that had been discussed at the Baghdad Arab summit, namely, the issue of Palestine, the situation in Syria and the issue of nuclear disarmament in the Middle East. During the work of the Golden Table conference held at the Russian Foreign Ministry on 9 October, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pointed out that the new Iraq constitutes a break from the old Iraq and that the current Iraq is seeking friendship, not enemies, among all peoples and countries of the world.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“During the summit, Iraq announced its complete alignment with the uprising of Arab nations since its first spark in Tunisia to achieve freedom, democracy and justice and that a State based on citizenship is the only choice in modern State-building. Iraq also pointed to the dangerous phenomenon of taking a stance based on sectarian calculations in dealing with sensitive issues relating to peoples and countries of the region. Iraq strongly warned all concerned parties that if a sectarian war erupted, the peoples and countries of the region would be at a dangerous junction and that their interests would be affected in ways not seen even in the worst situations that have occurred since the First World War.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“It joined the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions of 2008; ratified the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention; joined the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism; ratified the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency; ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; and issued Law No.48 of 2012, regarding the establishment of a national monitoring authority on banning nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Iraq participated in the Summit ofthe Non-Aligned Movement held in Tehran on 25 August, through a delegation headed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“In addition, the competent Iraqi authorities started the final checking of the list of Iraqi farmers affected by the demarcation of the borders between Iraq and Kuwait. At the regional and international levels, Iraq is still working to regain its proper position in the international community. Iraq was elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme in Rome in September, and to the position ofVice-President of the Executive Office of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, which is a body of the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi. As part of Iraq's continuous commitment to its international obligations, the Council of Representatives took the following decisions in the past four months.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“The Iraqi Cabinet approved on 27 November a draft law on the ratification of the agreement establishing a joint commission for cooperation between the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait. In addition to those positive developments, the Prime Minister of Kuwait is expected to visit Iraq in December. The two sides hope that the visit will result in resolving all outstanding issues and launch a new era in Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations based on mutual respect and common interests. As Mr. Kobler mentioned, the Iraqi Government took the necessary steps to name technical representatives to join the United Nations team in order to start the third stage of maintenance of the borders pillars between Iraq and Kuwait.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“On another note, from 18 to 20 September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs republished an advertisement related to Kuwaiti property and missing Kuwaitis on the Ministry's website and in several Iraqi daily newspapers. The advertisements called on Iraqi citizens to come forward and provide information regarding missing Kuwaitis and property and documents belonging to the State of Kuwait. In further positive steps, on 1 October a contract was signed with an engineering and surveying company to complete the maintenance of border pillars between the two countries. Also, on 18 October Iraq announced its agreement with Kuwait on having an international oil company manage joint oil fields between the two countries.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“During the meeting, the two discussed mechanisms to implement the arrangements and bilateral understandings that led to the meeting between an Iraqi delegation headed by Iraqi Vice-President Khudair al-Khuzaie and a Kuwaiti delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheik Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to settle the issue of Kuwaiti Airlines after reaching an agreement on a financial settlement. That decision, once implemented, will lift all restrictions and complications associated with rebuilding Iraqi Airways and restore its freedom to purchase new airplanes to re-establish its fleet.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“Relations between Iraq and Kuwait relations have witnessed positive developments and concrete steps towards Iraq's fulfilling its remaining international obligations and settling unresolved issues related to resolutions under Chapter VII resulting from Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Those steps will lay the foundations for cooperation between the two countries. In that context, the Iraqi Government has made tireless efforts to maintain the momentum achieved in repairing relations between the two countries since the beginning of this year. On 27 November, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari met in Baghdad with Ambassador of the State of Kuwait Ali Al-Momen.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“The report affirms that current contracts between Iraq and international companies call for a steady increase in oil production close to five times the current level of 3 million barrels per day. It also mentions that the 9 million barrels per day production level required by those contracts will represent the highest sustainable increase in production in the history of the global oil industry. With that increase, Iraq will become the largest contributor to growth in international supply, producing approximately 45 per cent of global growth. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that optimizing exploitation of oil resources will permit an increase in Iraq's general budget to about $500 billion.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“That will be an important achievement, with vast implications for all other service sectors. It is worth mentioning that Iraq is currently producing more than 8,000 megawatts, which is around triple the amount produced by the national electric grid in 2003. In a unique event, the International Energy Agency published a special report about the future outlook of energy in Iraq, during a ceremony under the auspices of the Iraqi Council of Ministers on 10 October. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Hussain Al- Shahristani, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Issues; Special Representative of the Secretary-General Martin Kobler; Ms. Fatih Birol, Chief Economist at the International Energy Agency; a number of Iraq parliamentarians, the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, and representatives of companies.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source