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

“Iraq is aiming to increase its refining capability to 750,000 barrels per day by establishing four new refineries in Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan and Dhi Qar provinces. In that context, on 21 October the Ministry of Oil launched the Nasiriyah Integrated Project to develop the Nasiriyah field, which has a proven reserve of more than 4 billion barrels, and to construct and operate a new refinery with the capacity to refine 300,000 barrels per day. In the context of the tireless efforts made by the Iraqi Government to solve our electricity shortages, two new power plants were inaugurated, in Karbala and Babil provinces, with a production capacity of 250 megawatts each. On 10 October, the Minister of Electricity announced that the electricity shortage problem will be solved by the end of 2013.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“Based on those initiatives, the positive results of Iraq's energy policy of increasing oil production to the highest level possible to meet the growing global demand have started to appear. For the first time in years, in August Iraq became the second-largest exporting country among the countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. In the context of efforts to develop the Iraqi oil industry, the Ministry of Oil announced on 30 August the beginning of preparations for the fifth round of contracts for gas fields to meet the needs of domestic markets and to operate the power plants. It also has become mandatory for contracted companies to produce the natural gas associated with oil production and not to waste it through flaring, as they had done for the past 80 years, causing billions of dollars in losses.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“On the economic situation, the Government realizes Iraq's important and vital role in ensuring the stability and security of international oil markets, given their effect on world economic prosperity and the urgency of ending the recession caused by the international financial crisis. From that perspective, Iraq is moving forward to implement its plans to increase oil and gas production and to improve its hydrocarbon capabilities. These steps will generate the revenue necessary to support reconstruction and social and economic development, raise the standard of living for citizens, and promote political stability in Iraq. In addition, it will promote stability in the energy market and lead Iraq to play a new international role, assuming responsibilities commensurate with its actual capabilities.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“In an important step forward in the development of the Ministries of Education and Higher Education towards more institutional work and towards advancing the educational process in Iraq to meet modern international standards, a strategic national document for education and higher education in Iraq was adopted for the period 2012-2022. The document assesses the situation of the education and higher education sectors in Iraq and identifies current weaknesses. The document sets out a policy to face the shortcomings by creating a healthy environment meeting current scientific, educational and technological developments and practices in the world.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“On the social situation, in the framework of efforts to promote the political and legal awareness of Iraqi citizens, Iraq signed an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development on 4 October, aimed at increasing the level of public awareness about legal protections available to vulnerable groups, including the disabled, widows, orphans and children. The agreement is also aimed at establishing laws and regulations to protect those vulnerable groups and to involve non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and Iraqi citizens in the legislative process.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“Regarding developments relating to the residents of Camp New Iraq, formerly Camp Ashraf, more than 3,000 members of the Mujahedin e-Khalq organization were transferred peacefully to Camp Hurriya. Approximately 200 residents remain in Camp Ashraf to deal with logistical issues and the liquidation of the organization's possessions in the camp. In that connection, I would like to express my Government's position and the need to find a sustainable solution to the problem through resettling the camp's residents in other countries, as stated in the memorandum of understanding signed with the United Nations in 2011.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“After lengthy discussions, the Iraqi Parliament agreed on the number of new members of the Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq. The voting for nine new members of the Commission took place between 19 and 27 September, ensuring balanced representation for the different components of Iraqi society. In continuation of the democracy-building process that has been under way in Iraq since 2003, all requirements necessary to hold the next elections for all provincial councils have been met and the date of the elections has been set for 20 April. Iraq is currently witnessing increased political activities among all political blocs to prepare the lists, entities and coalitions that will participate in those elections.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“At the beginning of this week, the Ministry of Defence announced that the military intelligence had arrested two groups of terrorists linked to Al-Qaida. The first is called the financing group and has been involved in kidnappings for ransom. The second group consists of assassination squads using silencers. After the tensions in the city of Tuz in Kirkuk on 16 November, which resulted in one Iraqi citizen killed and 11 others injured, a solution was reached within 48 hours with an agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to withdraw all militants that entered the area in order to avoid similar incidents. Furthermore, technical meetings were held in Baghdad on 26 November to put an end to the tension. The two parties also discussed possible ways to de-escalate the recent tension.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“They agreed to promote cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities to support the Government's efforts in accelerating the reconstruction process. Despite the steady improvement in the security situation, Iraq still suffers from terrorist attacks targeting Iraqi citizens. That led the Government to increase the capabilities of its security forces through the continuation of its disarmament plans to enhance the security and sovereignty of Iraq in the face of all internal and external threats. The Government also worked on modernizing its security plans to confront terrorist attempts to disturb peace and stability. Security forces have arrested several groups that were involved in committing terrorist attacks, kidnappings and assassinations using silencers and targeting citizens and members of the security forces.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“The Prime Minister stressed the importance of avoiding the language of threats and war because Iraqis have passed that stage and should not return to it. He also stressed the need to return to the 2009 agreement regarding the responsibility of managing security in the ethnically mixed areas. That agreement calls for establishing joint checkpoints consisting of the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to reassure all Iraqi citizens and that the management of those checkpoints should be under the supervision of the Federal Government. With regard to efforts to strengthen relations between the executive and legislative authorities in the country, the Prime Minister met the Speaker of the Council of Representatives on 3 November.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“In the same context, on 22 October, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mr. Nuri al-Maliki, welcomed a delegation comprised of representatives of the political parties in the Kurdistan region and another led by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government to discuss the elements of the reform paper presented by the National Alliance. In the context of efforts to solve the political stalemate, on Wednesday, 21 November, the Prime Minister met the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Oyama Al-Nujafi. They discussed the internal situation, the latest developments and the efforts of the Speaker, who had been commissioned by the heads of the political blocs to solve the problems with the Kurdistan Regional Government.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“On the political and security situation, Iraq has made significant progress in its endeavour to establish a democratic and federal State on solid foundations. In the past few months, the political parties and blocs have conducted talks and meetings to achieve political reform, in line with the requirements for the next stage in Iraq, and to reach a united national position to ensure the success of the upcoming national meeting. Despite the differences in opinion on how to hold that meeting, all political parties agreed on the need to solve the political crisis within the framework of the Constitution. In that context, the President of Iraq, Mr. Jalal Talabani, continued his efforts to bring together political rivals and to bring together the positions of the different political blocs.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“Allow me, at the outset, to congratulate you and your country, Mr. President, on India's assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I would also like to extend my thanks to the previous Security Council President, the Permanent Representative of Guatemala, for his efforts during the month of October. I would also like to thank Mr. Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, and his team in Baghdad and New York for their tireless efforts to assist the Government and people of Iraq. Having reviewed the report of the Secretary- General on the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, contained in document S/2012/848, I would like to put forward the following comments.”
2012-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6875 (2012) · source
“We once again thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and her Office for their efforts and we express, as a priority of the Iraqi Government, our readiness and happiness to cooperate with them within the framework of the new mandate and with all bodies of the United Nations in order to guarantee the rights of Iraqi children.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Situations that do not fall within the terms of the mandate should not be included in the reports of the Secretary-General, in order to preserve the integrity of the mandate. The report also states in paragraph 48 that "[a]rmed groups, including Al-Qaida in Iraq and ISI, were responsible in all reported cases". In conclusion, I would like to stress an important fact of which the Security Council is aware. As the Secretary-General said in one of his reports, Iraq today is not the Iraq of prior to 2003. Iraq today is a constitutional, parliamentary and federal democracy ruled by a Government, elected by the people of Iraq, that is protecting the rule of law and human rights, especially the rights of the Iraqi children.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Paragraph 48 points to 54 incidents affecting schools and hospitals during 2011. We would note that those numbers of incidents have not been confirmed. We also believe that the numbers are very small given the hundreds of thousands of schools, hospitals and health centres all over Iraq. Children attend school in a normal fashion throughout the country; this small number of incidents does not affect them. In paragraph 48, the report also states that "[t]wenty-seven education personnel and 17 medical workers were killed or injured in different incidents that included direct shooting and improvised explosive devices". We hereby express the need for full respect and observance of the children and armed conflict mandate.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We would like to point out that United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq has staff stationed all over Iraq which could, together with the country team monitoring and reporting task force associated with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, investigate those incidents mentioned in paragraph 41 of the report, in which the verification of 117 incidents is noted. Paragraph 47 of the report mentions that the kidnapping of children is used to finance the operations of armed groups that are not part of the Iraqi Government. In the same paragraph, the report states that "an 11-year-old boy was abducted near his house in June 2011 by perpetrators claiming to be members of ISI". That shows that kidnappings are used to finance terrorist groups.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We would point out that those trials are handled by independent judicial authorities in application of relevant Iraqi laws designed to counter terrorism perpetrated against civilians and other innocent people, whose deaths and injuries have been witnessed throughout the world thanks to television coverage of brutal terrorist attacks in Iraq. Paragraph 44 of the report mentions a number of deaths and injuries among children caused by the continuation of Violence in 2011. It further mentions that the ability to investigate those incidents remains limited due to security concerns related to monitoring and observation activities.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We would like to point out that if those children were being used by Al-Qaida for terrorist attacks, as is mentioned in the previous paragraph in the report, then they could be indicted and convicted. Legislation from all over the world permits the indictment and conviction of children who commit crimes. In the same paragraph, the report also mentions that in the last three months of 2011 there was an increase in the number of child detainees awaiting trial who had been accused of being associated with armed groups and committing crimes related to terrorism.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“In the same paragraph, the report points out that children are being used to carry out espionage, reconnaissance, transport of military equipment, videotaping attacks for propaganda purposes, planting of explosives and actual participation in attacks against civilians and security forces, which suggests that children are doing almost everything for Al-Qaida terrorist groups. That is an obvious exaggeration of the role of children. The report also states in paragraph 42: "It should be noted that the Al-Qaida in Iraq's youth wing 'Birds of Paradise', listed in my previous report for recruitment and use of children, was no longer active in the current reporting period." In paragraph 43, the report states that a number of children were indicted or convicted of terrorism-related charges under the Iraqi anti-terrorism law.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We believe that the report should include only verified incidents, as that leads to greater accuracy, given that reported numbers could sometimes be exaggerated. Official statistics issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Health show that only 96 children were the victims of terrorist attacks in 2011. The report also mentions that children were reportedly seen manning checkpoints of the Awakening Council checkpoints. However, the Awakening Councils have been officially merged with the Iraqi Armed Forces, and children are prohibited to serve in the Armed Forces pursuant to Iraqi law and the Iraqi Constitution. In paragraph 42, the report mentions that armed groups such as Al-Qaida and the Islamic State of Iraq are continuing to recruit children.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned the attacks perpetrated by those groups as terrorist attacks, for example in his statements on 11 March 2010 and 3 November 2010. In addition, the Security Council has condemned the attacks carried out in Iraq by those organizations and described them as terrorist attacks in each of its statements, the most recent being SC/10757, issued on 11 September 2012. It is therefore important to characterize those groups as terrorist organizations and their attacks as terrorist attacks in order to be consistent with the language of the Secretary-General and the Security Council. Paragraph 41 also states that there were 341 incidents in which children were victims during the reporting period, 117 of which were verified by the country monitoring and reporting task force.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We trust that the foregoing will be of assistance to your authorities in determining whether the concept of armed conflict applies in the circumstances of Iraq." It is obvious that the concept of armed conflict set forth in the Geneva Conventions does not apply to Iraq because in Iraq we are no longer experiencing more than sporadic acts of violence and terrorist attacks. My Government believes that there are terrorist groups who are attacking Iraqi civilians, including children, but that we do not have armed conflict in Iraq. With regard to the report of the Secretary- General (S/2012/261), we would like to make the following observations. In paragraph 41 and many other paragraphs, the report describes Al-Qaida and its affiliated groups, such as the Islamic State of Iraq, as armed groups.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“It states that Protocol II applies in respect of armed conflicts 'which take place in the territory of a High Contracting Party between its armed forces and dissident armed forces or other organized armed groups which, under responsible command, exercise such control over a part of its territory as to enable them to carry out sustained and concerted military operations and to implement this Protocol.' It also specifies that it does 'not apply to situations of internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence and other acts of a similar nature, as not being armed conflicts.' Thus, under international humanitarian law, an "armed conflict' of a non-international character is more than a sporadic act of violence, and 'a party to an armed conflict' must be (i) organized, with a responsible command structure; (ii) exercise control over a part of a territory; and (iii) be able to carry out sustained and concerted military operations, which criteria are cumulative in nature.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Ladsous spoke about United Nations peacekeeping forces in many countries in our region and the world, but we have had no such forces in Iraq since 2003, which is a good indication of the fact that we do not have armed conflict in Iraq. In fact, in her letter responding to my question about the definition of armed conflict, Patricia O'Brien, Under- Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, wrote: "Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions of 1977 address situations of non-international armed conflict. Article I of Protocol II sets forth certain additional criteria in respect of non-international armed conflicts.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“David Tolbert, President of the International Center for Transitional Justice, for their presentations. I would like to express our View that they all mentioned the situation of children and armed conflict in many countries in our region and the world without mentioning the situation in Iraq. That means that the situation in Iraq is not as bad as in all the countries that were mentioned this morning in the Security Council, although we continue to say that we still have difficulties, challenges and problems because of the violence perpetrated by terrorist groups such as Al-Qaida and its affiliated groups, such the Islamic State of Iraq. In addition, Mr.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month and to express my delegation's appreciation for what was mentioned in the annual report of the Secretary- General (S/2012/261) on children and armed conflict presented to the Security Council, covering the period from January to December 2011. I would like also to congratulate Ms. Leila Zerrougui on her appointment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict, and I wish to express our willingness to cooperate with her within the scope of her new mandate. I would like to thank Ms. Zerrougui; Mr. Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; Mr. Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF; and Mr.”
2012-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6838Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Hoshyar Zebari, addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and dated 28 June 2012, which states Iraq's desire for the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq to be extended for a period of 12 months (S/2012/520, annex). I also affirm my Government's appreciation for the role played by UNAMI in Iraq and New York in helping Iraq, and for the efforts made by Special Representative Martin Kobler to provide the support requested by the Iraqi Government in line with the mechanisms agreed upon between the two sides. I agree with the statement made by my friend Martin Kobler to the effect that UNAMI is needed now more than ever in Iraq.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“A positive environment has prevailed at the meetings of the committee and sub-committees, as has a common dedication to the importance of achieving noticeable improvement in Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations. All these things have been achieved as a result of the political will of the leaders of the two countries. We hope that the achievements of the 29 April meeting will pave the way for Iraq's exit from the provisions of Chapter VII, especially when an understanding on specific mechanisms and joint vision for the future steps is reached. In conclusion, I would like to point to the letter of the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Mr.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“At the end of the meeting, the following documents were signed: the minutes of the meeting of the second session of the High Committee, at which an inventory of all issues was identified, signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries; the agreement to establish a joint collaboration committee between Iraq and Kuwait, signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries; and an agreement between Iraq and Kuwait regarding the establishment of a joint management committee to facilitate and organize navigation in Khor Abdullah, signed by the Transportation Ministers of the two countries. An agreement was also reached to sign other accords after concluding the legal steps in each country during the visit of the Prime Minister of Kuwait to Baghdad before the end of this year.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“I would also like to point to the meeting of the joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti Ministerial Committee that was held in Baghdad on 29 April, at which a number of issues were discussed, most importantly Iraq's obligations towards international resolutions, land borders, freedom of navigation in Khor Abdallah, missing Iraqis and Kuwaitis, Kuwaiti loans to Iraq, compensations, Kuwait's new Mubarak Port, the establishment of a Gulf hunting area, and the opening of a Kuwaiti consulates in Basra and Erbil.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“The Iraqi authorities have searched official records and mass graves for the purpose of finding the remains of the missing Kuwaitis. We have achieved good results in this regard and are pursuing our earnest efforts to close this file. In the context of implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions and of efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close the file of Kuwaiti property taken over by the former regime in 1990, on 16 April, in the headquarters of the Central Bank of Kuwait, paper notes, metal currency, documents and keys belonging to the Central Bank of Kuwait were handed over to the Kuwaiti side. On 17 April, 15 microfilm cassettes containing the archives of the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Anbar were transferred to the Kuwaiti authorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“I also assure the Council that there is positive collaboration and exchange between the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait with a view to settling all the unresolved issues between the two countries resulting from Saddam's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Resolving these remaining issues is a top priority for us in Iraq. I affirm my country's commitment to fulfilling the remaining obligations within the framework of the relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait. In this context, the Iraqi Government, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and with some friendly countries, has made intensive efforts to locate the remains of missing Kuwaitis.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Zebari stressed the importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries on the official and popular levels, and Iraq's desire to improve their relations, which would serve the interests of the two countries. In the light of implementing Iraq's obligations imposed under resolution 1957 (2010) in December 2010, which lifted the sanctions against Iraq, and following Iraq's voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Iraqi Parliament ratified the Additional Protocol on 28 June. Concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, I would like to affirm that Iraq is committed to resolving all unresolved issues with our neighbour Kuwait through friendly relations and negotiations.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Iraq offered significant observations that reflected its position in dealing with the Syrian crisis, which was agreed in the outcome document. Iraq's Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated in the Syrian opposition conference on 2 July in Cairo in his capacity as Chair of the League of Arab States. In the framework of Iraq's desire to strengthen its bonds with Arab countries, Mr. Hoshyar Zebari met with Mr. Mohamed Morsy, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. In the meeting, Mr. Zebari conveyed the greetings and congratulations of President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Iraqi people upon the election of Mr. Morsy as the new President. Mr.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“An agreement was reached on a protocol for political and diplomatic collaboration between the Iraqi Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Federation. Furthermore, the work ofRussian companies in the oil, gas and electricity sectors was discussed during the meeting, in addition to military collaboration and the idea of establishing an air travel route between Baghdad and Moscow. I would also like to point to the active role of Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who headed the Iraqi delegation participating in the meeting of the international working group on Syria in Geneva on 30 June and the high-level ministerial meeting held to prepare the final document that was produced by the group's meeting.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“In a statement issued by the P5+1 and delivered by Ms. Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in a press conference on 24 May, she expressed her thanks to the Iraqi Government, and especially to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, for the exceptional hospitality and organization of those meetings. Within the framework of Iraq's openness to all countries of the world, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hoshyar Zebari visited Moscow on 14 June upon invitation from his Russian counterpart, Mr. Sergey Lavrov. During the visit, the two Ministers discussed the results of the nuclear talks conducted in Baghdad between the six countries and Iran and the role played by Iraq in facilitating that meeting as a prelude to the meeting that followed in Moscow.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“With regard to the regional and international situation, in accordance with Iraq's responsibility towards the region and the world, as a peaceful State aiming to establish international peace and security through cooperative work to achieve the goals and aims of the United Nations Charter, the Iraqi Government, after hosting the Arab summit in March, worked on holding a meeting of the five plus one group (PS-l-l) and the European Union with the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, on 23 and 24 May. The meeting was held to discuss this important and sensitive issue in an Arab capital, which reflects the interest of Arab countries and their people in dealing with that issue through peaceful means and in taking responsibility in protecting the region and its people from any war or conflict.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Iraq has also collaborated fully with Special Representative Kobler and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in solving the issue of the Camp and relocating its residents to Camp Hurriya. The Iraqi Government calls on the members of the European Union and other countries to facilitate the process of relocating the Camp's residents as a final solution to this problem.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“22 on protecting journalists was adopted; the reason stated for its adoption was to respect freedom of the press and opinion, to guarantee the rights of journalists and to emphasize their role in establishing democracy in the new Iraq. The important role ofjournalists is to complement the role of human rights observers. Pursuant to article 2, the law aims to promote the rights of journalists and provide them with protection in the Republic. Several items in the law deal with the legal assurances forjournalists to perform their work with freedom and ease. I would like to affirm that Iraq has fulfilled its humanitarian and international obligations towards the residents of Camp New Iraq, which used to be called Camp Ashraf. As Mr. Kobler mentioned, the Iraqi Government has showed flexibility in relocating the Camp's residents.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“It added an important institution to the process of building a comprehensive system for promoting human rights that enjoys the backing and support of the United Nations and its agencies. The freedoms of the press and expression are two of the most important safeguards for an effective monitoring mechanism for the fourth authority on the situation of human rights and the rule of law in Iraq. The Constitution ensures freedom of expression and opinion by all means and the freedom of the press, print, advertising, the media and publishing. Freedom of expression and opinion are centre pillars in democracy-building, which has continued to evolve since 2003. Law No.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“In this regard, I would like to point to the creation of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights, which is a historic achievement for Iraq and a sign of its true intention to respect and promote human rights in the country. What makes its creation unique is the mechanism formulated by the Commission's Law No. 54 of 2009, which ensures transparency, professionalism, democracy and the Paris standards in creating an Independent Commission by the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the Parliamentary Committee of Experts, and the rest of the participants, which was crowned by the House of Representatives' approval of the members of the Board of the Commissioners.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Iraq presented its report during the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and agreed on the Council's recommendations, which were formulated with the vision and ideas of the Ministry of Human Rights within the framework of the national plan for human rights, which is considered to be the first plan in the history of the Iraqi State to become a road map in that field. Iraq also submitted its report regarding the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights ofthe Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and is preparing to welcome the Special Rapporteur on torture, following an invitation from Iraq.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Iraq is also committed to abiding by the decisions of the Human Rights Council and has made considerable progress and achieved important accomplishments in protecting and respecting human rights, despite the challenges and difficulties. It has done so through the work of the competent institutions specialized in that field, starting with the Human Rights Committee in Parliament, the Ministry of Human Rights and its offices located throughout Baghdad and the provinces, and human rights committees in the provincial councils, and ending with the establishment of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights. Also, many important regulations have been issued regarding human rights and several laws and decrees issued by the former regime that were contrary to the principles of human rights were either cancelled or amended.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“I also would like to point to the visit of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Bulgaria and Poland, as representatives of the European Union, to Baghdad on 23 June to discuss the implementation mechanism of the Agreement with Iraqi officials. With regard to the human rights situation, Iraq is entering a new era in which the Iraqis are building the foundation of democracy and all kinds of freedoms: freedom of the press, freedom to establish political parties and freedom of expression, as well as pluralism and the peaceful transition of power. Iraq has also continued to move towards deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries in order to regain its positive role and live in peace with its people and neighbours in a way that strengthens the chances for stability and peace in the region.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“That agreement is a comprehensive long-term treaty between parties that believe in the goals and principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and are committed to the principles of democracy. During the visit, discussions were held regarding work procedures that would contribute to the implementation of the Agreement for joint cooperation on issues relating to investment and energy. Iraq and the European Union also touched on the timing of implementing the most important issues covered by this Agreement, including political dialogue, in addition to touching on political issues relating to the achievement of stability and peace in the Arab region.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Through the licensing rounds, Iraq is seeking to increase its oil production to meet domestic demand and to export the surplus, in addition to increasing its oil reserves by new discoveries in the new block offered to international companies for exploration. Those steps affirm that, after less than a year and a half of implementation of the previous round of contracts, Iraq has been able to increase its oil production by more than 500,000 barrels of oil a day. I also would like to point out that an Iraqi delegation headed by Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, signed in Brussels on 11 May the European Union-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“The Ministry is currently working on constructing four new refineries in Iraqi provinces through a process of foreign investment. The establishment of those refineries will have a positive effect on the Iraqi economy by increasing the production of oil products, which will reflect positively on the fuel distribution to Iraqi citizens. Iraq has started oil production at the new Al-Ahdab oil field in Wasit province in central Iraq, which is managed by the Chinese National Petroleum Company with a production level of 60,000 barrels per day. The accompanied natural gas from this field will be used to provide fuel for Al-Kahlaa power station in Misan province.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“Hussein al-Shahristani, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, Mr. Abdul-Kareem Luaibi, Minister of Oil, and a number of members of Parliament, presidents of provincial councils, Ambassadors and representatives of the international oil companies. Forty-seven companies from Egypt, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Romania, Croatia, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Angola participated in this round. The Ministry of Oil also announced that Iraq's oil production for the next 20 years will be 60 billion barrels, with an estimated value of $5 trillion, based on estimated price of $85 per barrel.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source
“I would also like to point to the fourth licensing round in the Ministry ofOil, which granted a consortium of Kuwait Energy, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and the United Arab Emirates Dragon Oil company with a service and investment contract for exploration of block 9 in Basra province over an area of 900 square kilometres with oil potential. This licensing round came as part of the policy ofreceiving and opening offers, in a very transparent way, from international oil companies that are eligible to compete for service contracts for exploration areas listed in the fourth licensing round, which includes 12 locations with six exploration areas spread over a number of provinces. The fourth licensing round for the exploration of oil and gas was opened in the presence of Mr.”
2012-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6811 (2012) · source