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| Iraq | |
| UNSC extends UNAMI mission for one year | |
| 2010-08-06 | |
| BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted on Thursday a resolution to extend the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) for another year expiring on July 31, 2011. “The resolution, forwarded by Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, underlined the importance of the security of the UNAMI staff so that they may do their job for the interest of the people of Iraq,” according to the UN web site today (Aug. 5). It expressed its intention to review the mandate “in 12 months or sooner, if requested by the government of Iraq.” As UN chief Ban Ki-moon did Wednesday, the council also appealed to Iraq’s bickering leaders to quickly form a government “that represents the will and sovereignty of the Iraqi people and their hope for a strong, independent, unified and democratic Iraq” in the wake of the March parliamentary elections. The council stressed that the security of UN personnel was essential for UNAMI to carry out its work and consequently called on the Iraqi government and other UN member states “to continue to provide security and logistical support to the UN presence in Iraq.” In his latest report on Iraq, Ban warned that continued delays in forming a government were fueling “a growing sense of uncertainty in the country,” which, he said, “elements opposed to Iraq’s democratic transition may try to exploit.” His special representative to Iraq, Ad Melkert, warned council members Wednesday that “the practical implications of the US military drawdown are now starting to affect the work” of UNAMI.
This, he added, would require the finalization of the UN-Iraq status of mission agreement and an increase in the UNÂ’s own security and operational capacity involving aviation, transport and infrastructure. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |