Mr. President,
I have the honour to introduce the report of the
Secretary-General, contained in document S/2000/1132, submitted to the Security
Council pursuant to paragraph 5 of resolution 1302 (2000) of 8 June 2000. It is
a comprehensive report, with details on progress made in the implementation of
the programme as well as difficulties encountered. The cut-off date for data
contained in the report is 31 October 2000. With only one day left for the end
of the current phase VIII of the programme, I will provide you with an update of
the information contained in the report, as at 30 November.
Although the date for the submission of the report was set
six months ago by resolution 1302 (2000), the consideration of the report by
Security Council today comes at a moment when the implementation of the
humanitarian programme in Iraq has become politicized, more than ever, as
reflected in recent developments with which everyone is fully familiar and
preoccupied. I do hope that the consideration of the report will provide an
opportunity to the Council to address the difficulties presently encountered. I
should also like to reiterate the appeal to all concerned to make a determined
and concerted effort to maintain the humanitarian identity of the programme,
distinct from all other activities concerning Iraq.
Revenue
In light of some confusing and contradictory statements made
recently regarding the funding level and the utilization of funds under the
oil-for-food programme, I feel obliged to provide the Council with detailed
information on the subject.
As at 1 December 2000, the cumulative total proceeds received
and confirmed to be received were $37,116,019,599 billion. The proceeds have
been distributed, pursuant to relevant resolutions of the Security Council, as
follows:
ESB (53 per cent) account for central/southern
Iraq $19,241,537,859
ESC (13 per cent) account for the three northern governorates
$ 4,653,246,159
ESD (2.2 per cent) account for administrative and operational
costs $
792,841,558
ESE (UNSCOM/UNMOVIC) $
268,814,452
CWA (Compensation
Commission) $11,054,489,576
RWA (Security Council resolution 778 (1992) escrow
account $
119,500,167
(suspended during phases VII and VIII)
ESF (Transportation costs in
Turkey) $
985,589,167
We need to revise downwards the phase VIII revenue estimates
given in paragraph 2 of the report, in light of Iraq’s decision to stop
exporting oil, as at midnight, on 30 November. Accordingly, a total of 306
vessels were loaded during the current phase, with a total of 376 million
barrels of oil worth $9.7 billion at current prices. Under the present phase, a
total of $6,371,580,000 will be made available for the humanitarian programme,
instead of the estimated $6.9 billion, mentioned in paragraph 2 of the
report of the Secretary-General.
As stated in paragraph 7 of the report, the total quantity of
oil approved for export under those contracts corresponded to approximately
432.6 million barrels for the present phase, with an estimated revenue of $10.3
billion (including pipeline fees if all contracts were executed, at current
prices). Had Iraq continued to export oil during the five remaining days of the
present phase, about $500 million additional revenue would have been received
under the oil-for-food programme.
The volume of Iraqi crude oil exported during phase VIII is
32.5 million barrels higher than the volume exported during phase VII, but 14
million barrels lower then the record of exports during phase VI (389.6 million
barrels).
As for the reasons for the cessation of oil exports at
midnight, 30 November, everyone is aware of the proposal made by Iraq, the
recommendations made by the UN Oil Overseers in the Office of the Iraq
Programme, and the decision taken by the 661 Committee. I therefore do not wish
to go into details on this matter, except to give assurances that we have kept
in close touch with the State Oil Marketing Organization of Iraq (SOMO) through
the weekend and we are in fact continuing our discussions as I speak this
morning.
We will do our outmost to resolve the difficulties
encountered, which I hope are of a temporary nature. As we all know, other
related issues covered under the relevant Security Council resolutions have
compounded the difficulties involved in reaching an agreement on the pricing
mechanism for the month of December. It is essential to adopt a Cartesian
approach and find a pragmatic solution in order to ensure the resumption of oil
exports for the sake of the Iraqi people.
Revenues available for additional contracts as at 30 November
2000
As at 30 November, the United Nations Iraq account had a
balance of $12.2 billion, under the 53 per cent account, of which $6.4 billion
was committed for letters of credit that are issued and outstanding, $267
million was segregated for transportation cost, and $112.5 million is to be
transferred to the appropriate accounts pursuant to resolution 986 (1995).
We also had $779.5 million worth of letters of credit pending
with BNP-Paribas at different stages of issuance. This figure includes the $607
million covering 302 approved applications, awaiting action by the Central Bank
of Iraq.
Accordingly, as at 30 November, the United Nations Iraq
account had $4.7 billion still available for issuance of additional letters of
credit for new applications submitted for approval under the 53 per cent
account.
I do hope this information would clarify the confusion
regarding the funds under the custody of the United Nations.
Processing and approval of applications
I should like first to thank the Security Council Committee
for having approved a number of suggestions and proposals submitted by the
Office of the Iraq Programme, which already have accelerated considerably the
rate of processing and approval of applications. I should like to appeal to the
Committee to act urgently on a number of other suggestions and proposals
submitted by the Secretariat, some going back to February 1999.
As directed by the Secretary-General in paragraph 127 of
his report, I will initiate, forthwith, consultations with the Committee and the
Government of Iraq with a view to streamlining and improving procedures
governing the submission, processing and approval of applications.
Processing of applications received under the ESB (53 per
cent) account
I should like to update the status of applications received
by the Office of the Iraq Programme, as at 30 November 2000. Since the start of
the implementation of the humanitarian programme in December 1996, we have
received:
13,038 applications, with a total value of $20.951 billion.
Out of the total, 10,183 applications, with a total
value of $16.955 billion have been approved by the 661 Committee or notified by
the Secretariat, without reference to the Committee, pursuant to paragraph 17 of
resolution 1284 (1999).
1,374 applications, with a total value of $2.521 billion,
remain on hold.
Furthermore, a total of 253 applications, valued at $887
million - which are incomplete or non-compliant, either with the approved
distribution plans or the procedures of the Committee - are awaiting processing
by the Secretariat, pending submission of the required information and
corrections, all by the suppliers.
A further 123 applications, which had been received during
November, with a total value of $377 million, are presently being processed.
Supplies delivered to Iraq
As at 30 November, supplies with a total value of $8.972
billion have been delivered in complete or partial shipments to Iraq. Additional
quantities of supplies, covered under already approved applications, with an
estimated value of $7.983 billion, are in the production and delivery pipeline.
Delays in the submission of applications
Despite some improvement since last month, the rate of submission
of applications for phase VIII is still slow for the majority of sectors. With
only five days left before the end of the current phase, we had received only
865 applications, valued at $2.926 billion and comprising only 39.7 per cent of
the phase VIII distribution plan budget.
Anyone with experience in negotiating contracts knows well,
however, how time consuming such negotiation is, particularly when the number of
contracts is so high - many highly complex and of very high value - as is the
case for contracts funded under the oil-for-food programme. We need to bear this
in mind. However, I say this not as an excuse for some of the inordinate delays
experienced in the submission of applications.
We fully recognize that once the Government signs the
contracts with its suppliers, responsibility for the submission of applications
to the Secretariat lies with the contractors through their respective permanent
or observer missions. Undoubtedly there are considerable delays experienced in
the chain of contracting between the Government of Iraq and its suppliers as
well as submission of applications by the suppliers through their permanent and
observer missions. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the Government of Iraq
intensify its efforts to expedite contracting and also, insist that its
suppliers submit the applications most expeditiously. It would also be helpful
if the Government keeps us informed, on a regular basis, on the contracts
signed, in advance of the submission of applications. The Office of the Iraq
Programme and the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator (UNOHCI)
keep the Government of Iraq fully informed on the status of all applications
received, at each stage of the process.
ESC (13 per cent) account
Under the ESC (13 per cent) account, the United Nations
agencies and programmes involved in the implementation of the humanitarian
programme in the three northern governorates of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah,
had submitted, as at 30 November, a total of 3,181 applications,
of which 3,005, with a total value of $953 million - excluding food and medicine
which are procured by the Government of Iraq under the bulk purchase
arrangements - had been approved by the Security Council Committee or notified
by the Secretariat, pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 1284 (1999). Seven
applications, with a total value of $540,000, remain on hold. Forty
applications, with a total value of $17.8 million, are currently under
processing or awaiting further specifications.
Oil spare parts and equipment
Against a total allocation of $2.4 billion authorized by the
Council for oil spare parts and equipment under phases IV to VIII, we have
received, as at 30 November, a total of 3,144 applications valued at $1.833
billion. The total value of the 2,312 applications approved was $1.240 billion,
including also 75 applications valued at $53.38 million, which were approved by
the group of oil experts in the Office of the Iraq Programme, pursuant to
paragraph 18 of resolution 1284 (1999).
A total of 554 applications valued at $332 million, have been
placed on hold, while 93 incomplete or noncompliant applications, valued at $178
million, are still waiting for the submission of additional information, mostly
by the suppliers. Eleven applications, worth $27.3 million, are currently under
active processing.
As at 31 October 2000, supplies valued at $430.9 million had
been delivered to Iraq, and supplies valued at about $775 million, were in the
production and delivery pipeline.
It is most regrettable that it took almost four months for
the Committee to finally approve, on 1 December 2000, the project-based list of
phase VIII oil spare parts and equipment, which we had submitted on 8 August
2000, pursuant to paragraph 18 of resolution 1284 (2000). It is also regrettable
that with only five days remaining before the end of the present phase, we have
received only four applications for oil spare parts and equipment valued at
$13.3 million, which represents 2.2 per cent of the $600 million allocated to
this sector, under phase VIII.
Incomplete and/or noncompliant applications received under
the ESB (53 per cent) account
In his letter dated 3 October 2000 addressed to the President
of the Security Council (S/2000/950), the Secretary-General had expressed his
very serious concern regarding, inter alia, the large volume of
incomplete or noncompliant applications submitted to the Secretariat, which
could not be processed pending the receipt of information required from the
suppliers and/or the Government of Iraq.
The approval by the Committee, on 20 October, of our proposal
to authorize the Secretariat to make corrections in those applications that
contain obvious technical errors, has already given good results. The decision
of the Committee, together with other measures taken by us internally, has
enabled the Contracts Processing Section of the Office of the Iraq Programme, to
reduce the number of applications under this category by more than 41 per cent -
from 434 on 3 October 2000, to 253 on 30 November 2000. Regrettably, however,
the value of applications under the above category increased by about seven per
cent during the same period, primarily due to the submission of seven incomplete
and/or noncompliant applications of high value, which alone account for 45 per
cent of the value of all applications that cannot be processed pending
submission of additional information from the suppliers.
In this connection, I wish to welcome the swift action taken
by the Government of Iraq to submit all the outstanding amendments to the
distribution plans, as required. I very much regret, however, that despite
reminders I have sent through letters addressed individually to the 38 applicant
missions concerned, the rate of their response has been generally very slow.
Thus, a total of 253 applications, valued at $887 million, cannot be processed
until the suppliers concerned provide, through their missions, the additional
information requested by the Secretariat.
Applications placed on hold
I should like to thank all concerned who have cooperated and
continue to cooperate with us in our efforts to reduce the high volume of holds
placed on applications. During a two-month period when we launched a vigorous
campaign, starting in April 2000, a total of $608 million worth of holds were
released.
Unfortunately, however, in the meantime the volume of holds
has risen drastically - from less than $1.34 billion in mid-June, to $2.521
billion as at 30 November, representing 11.4 per cent and 15.01 per cent,
respectively, of the value of all applications circulated to the Committee. In
his report before you, the Secretary-General has reiterated his continuing
concern about the unacceptably high level of the applications placed on hold. As
underlined in my letter dated 27 September 2000, addressed to the Chairman of
the Committee, we need to launch yet another vigorous campaign to contain and
reverse the increase in the number of applications placed on hold, which has
been affecting adversely the implementation of the programme in most sectors,
particularly in telecommunications, electricity, agriculture, education, oil,
and water and sanitation, in which respectively, 45, 34, 23, 22, 21, and 20 per
cent of the total value of applications remains on hold.
We will continue to provide the Committee with regular
comprehensive and analytical data regarding applications placed on hold, trends
in the imposition of holds, programme-related reasons for the release of holds
and the interrelationship of supplies required for given projects and
activities. We are also assisting the suppliers as well as the permanent and
observer missions in submitting the required information by the holding
missions. I should like to emphasize that timely feedback from members of the
Committee maintaining holds would enable us to take any additional action that
may be required to expedite the release of the holds. The absence of timely
feedback, long after the necessary clarifications are provided, may give - and
in fact has given - rise to speculation as to the real motive behind the hold
placed on an application.
Implementation of paragraph 25 of resolution 1284 (1999)
I should like to welcome the release just recently of holds
on a number of applications over which there were differences between the
Secretariat experts who disagreed with members of the Committee that the items
concerned in such applications were covered under the list of items notifiable
under the provisions of resolution 1051 (1996). With the release of holds on
some of the applications under this category, the total value of applications
remaining on hold was reduced from $486 million to $380 million, even though
there was an increase in the number of applications placed on hold from 171 to
193. I do appeal to all concerned to review their positions and ensure the
release of applications, in particular those concerning trucks so direly needed
for the distribution of humanitarian items in all sectors of the programme. The
review mechanism has been functioning well and we stand ready to provide any
additional information, which may be required by the Committee, in order to have
the holds released on the remaining applications.
Approvals/releases on condition of monitoring/observation
I am pleased to note that the measures taken to enhance the
United Nations observation mechanism has significantly helped in the approval
and/or release from hold by the Committee of 554 applications valued at
about $1 billion, on condition that special targeted monitoring and observation
is to be carried out. I should like to express the hope that our regular reports
on observation and monitoring of such supplies delivered to Iraq, will encourage
the Committee to approve, or release from hold, those applications which contain
items that are on the list provided for under resolution 1051 (1996).
United Nations observation mechanism
We have already provided both the Council and its Committee
with full details on the enhanced observation mechanism, which was put in place
on 20 July this year. We are confident that the strengthened mechanism will meet
the reporting needs of both the Council and its Committee.
In this regard, one of the underlying tasks of the new
observation mechanism has been to ensure that only those carrying out
observation responsibilities in the field are counted against the 158
observation posts agreed with the Government of Iraq. While many staff members
had initially joined both UNOHCI and the various UN agencies and programmes as
observers, they have moved into other programme or administrative positions such
as reports, programme, finance and administrative officers. Over the past weeks
we have been through a cleaning-up process to ensure that staff are posted
against their functional duties - either as field observers or as
programme/administrative staff. This will free observer’s posts to be occupied
by those involved strictly in observation tasks, while at the same time ensuring
that all other staffing requirements are in place to support the observation
process. We will ensure that all observer posts are filled with technical
experts to meet the challenges inherent in a vastly expanding and complex
programme.
As a result of this exercise, we now have filled 92 out of
the 158 observer posts, as follows: 12 with MDOU (Multi-disciplinary Observation
Unit/UNOCHI), 40 within the Geographical Observation Unit/UNOHCI, and 40 with
the UN agencies and programmes. We have already recruited an additional 18
observers whose visas have just been granted today - 12 for UNOHCI, four for
Habitat, and two for the International Telecommunications Union. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has given us assurances that, as soon as they receive our
applications for visas for the remaining observers, they will process them
expeditiously. UNOHCI and the UN agencies and programmes have both
identified a further 15 candidates for observer posts, who are in an advanced
stage of recruitment. We anticipate having a full complement of observers in
place in January.
Notifications and approvals by the Secretariat
Pursuant to paragraphs 17 and 18 of resolution 1284 (1999),
and paragraph 8 of resolution 1302 (2000), the Secretariat had notified, as at
30 November, that 1,344 applications received, with a total value of $2.893
billion, were eligible for payment, including seventy-five applications for oil
spare parts and equipment with a total value of $53.38 million, which were
approved by the group of oil experts, without circulation to the Committee.
The proven benefits of the implementation of paragraph 17 of
resolution 1284 (1999) should encourage all concerned to respond positively to
the Secretary-General’s strong recommendation for the expansion and extension
of the lists and procedures involved under paragraph 17, to all remaining
sectors in the distribution plan - beyond the presently covered agriculture,
education, food and food handling, health and water/sanitation sectors. The
Office of the Iraq Programme is preparing, with the help of UNOHCI and the
United Nations agencies and programmes concerned, lists of additional items to
be proposed to the Committee for its approval.
While during phase VII a modest start was made in the
implementation of paragraph 18 of resolution 1284 (1999), covering applications
for oil spare parts and equipment, during the current phase there was not a
single application for phase VIII oil spare parts and equipment approved under
that paragraph. First, as stated earlier, because the project-based list of
phase VIII oil spare parts and equipment was released only on 1 December, four
days before the end of the current phase on 5 December. Second, the Office of
the Iraq Programme received only one application for oil spare parts and
equipment, as at 30 October. Before the end of the current phase tomorrow, the
number of phase VIII applications received stands at four.
Now that the project-based list has been approved, I should
like to appeal to the Government of Iraq to take all necessary measures to
expedite contracting and, if contracts are already signed, to insist that the
suppliers submit their applications most urgently. I should like to assure all
concerned that our oil experts will expedite the processing of all applications
received for submission to the Committee for its approval, as well as those to
be approved in accordance with paragraph 18 of resolution 1284 (1999).
I wish to thank the Committee members concerned for the
release of holds they had placed previously on those applications which
contained items that were included later in the pre-approved lists pursuant to
paragraphs 17 and 18 of resolution 1284 (1999) and paragraph 8 of resolution
1302 (2000).
Letters of credit
I am pleased to inform you that since July 2000, BNP-Paribas
has considerably increased the resources allocated to servicing the oil-for-food
programme. As a result of the cooperation between the United Nations Treasury
and BNP-Paribas, and an intensive effort on the part of all concerned, the
letter of credit backlog encountered in July was cleared in August.
As noted in paragraph 50 of the report of the
Secretary-General, as at 31 October, there were some 600 approved applications,
including 45 for oil spare parts and equipment, with a total value of about $1.1
billion, awaiting the necessary instructions by the Central Bank of Iraq.
I am pleased to inform the Council that the Government of
Iraq has taken measures to ensure that the Central Bank of Iraq acts
expeditiously. There has been a major improvement already, with a 50 per cent
reduction in the number of approved applications pending issuance of
instructions by the Central Bank of Iraq. As at 30 November, out of the $779.5
worth of letters of credit pending with BNP-Paribas at different stages of
issuance, $607 million worth of letters of credit concerning 302 applications
awaited action by the Central Bank of Iraq, down from the $1.1 billion to which
I have just referred.
I do hope that the Government of Iraq will respond positively
to the recommendation of the Secretary-General, made in previous reports as well
as in paragraph 51 of his report before you, to deploy to New York a
representative of the Central Bank of Iraq, at the appropriate level, in order
to expedite activities related to banking arrangements.
Commercial protection
I should like to urge, once again, that the Committee review
the options submitted, on 9 July 1999, by the Office of the Iraq Programme
(S/AC.25/1999/CN.31), concerning payment clauses for the ESB (53 per cent)
account, in order to meet the legitimate need to provide commercial protection
for the Iraqi purchasers. This need is all the more pressing in view of the
growing volume as well as the greater complexity of the types of supplies
increasingly being delivered to Iraq. As a result, despite efforts made by the
Government of Iraq to engage reliable suppliers, there is an increase in the
number of cases where supplies were not delivered in full, or did not comply
with the contracted specifications.
I very much regret to state that for 17 months we have
achieved nothing but frustration in seeking a decision by the Committee to allow
the inclusion in contracts of provisions for commercial protection - simple,
basic, normal and well established legitimate commercial protection against
supplies and equipment which may be found to be defective, malfunctioning or not
in compliance with the terms of the contract signed and applications approved by
the Committee or the Secretariat pursuant to paragraphs 17 and 18 of resolution
1284 (1999). A decision by the Committee on this matter is long overdue.
As I said during my last briefing of the Council on 21
September this year, at present there are no provisions in contracts for
performance bonds, despite the size, technical complexity and the value of
contracts. We all know well that when our independent inspections agents check
and authenticate the supplies arriving at the established crossing points at the
border, it is literally impossible for them to open every single box and check
each of the items individually, let alone checking the performance of equipment
before installation.
To demonstrate clearly my point, I wish to point out that for
over two years the impasse over the responsibility for the provision and payment
of the complementary items for 1,010 dental chairs valued at $29 million has not
been resolved. This longstanding issue underscores the point I am making - under
the present procedures and decisions of the Committee, the supplier has all the
protection to receive payment in full once the supplies cross the border into
Iraq, and is subject to no commercial penalties for being non-compliant with the
terms of a contract it has signed with the Government of Iraq. In contrast,
however, the Government of Iraq is allowed no commercial protection in is
contracts.
Inspection and authentication of humanitarian supplies
My Office, along with Cotecna and the Treasury, has taken
additional measures to improve the transmission of electronic data from the four
border entry points to the oil-for-food database and electronic certification of
authentications. These measures are expected to reduce considerably the time and
resources required for finalizing the process of payments to the suppliers.
However, the lamentable state of facilities at the port of Umm Qasr has caused
considerable delays in the authentication of the goods delivered, which
adversely affect both parties to the contract. Recently, the last remaining
functioning container forklift was disabled and, consequently, cargo is
accumulating in the already congested port. In addition, the lack of available
trucks to remove such cargo from the port has further exacerbated the already
congested port. None of the items in the $28.5 million worth of contracts
so far approved for the rehabilitation of Umm Qasr port has arrived in Iraq, due
to a variety of factors, such as late contracting, delays in the submission and
approval of applications as well as the time required for manufacturing and
delivery of the supplies involved. Meanwhile, 10 applications with a total value
of $15.1 million, for the procurement of fire fighting vehicles, boats, trailer
loaders and suction dredges, remain on hold.
Cash component
As stated by the Secretary-General and recognized by all
concerned, the absence of an appropriate cash component, essential for all
sectors, has increasingly hampered the implementation of the programme. Unless
we resolve the impasse soon, we will face serious difficulties in the effective
implementation of the programme. As directed by the Secretary-General, the
Humanitarian Coordinator and I have intensified our efforts to find a pragmatic
mechanism, which will be acceptable to all concerned. Recent developments
regarding the oil sector to which I alluded earlier in my statement, further
underscores the urgency of this matter.
Internally displaced persons
We continue to be gravely concerned with the increasing
numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the three northern
governorates of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, both due to previous conflicts
among the various factions in the north as well as those coming from the
center/south.
A number of measures are underway to alleviate the plight of
the IDPs. The Habitat survey of IDPs, coupled with the independent technical
evaluation of the resettlement sector, both of which are nearing completion,
will enable us to assess more clearly the progress made to date and to determine
ways of accelerating the provision of housing to vulnerable groups in the
context of viable communities. We have also made arrangements for the United
Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to provide, as an activity distinct
from the mine action programme, an emergency relief organization with the
necessary planning and logistics capacity to respond far more rapidly and in a
well-coordinated manner to such abominable living conditions at the Kani Shaitan
Camp and other locations, which I had described during my briefing of the
Council, on 21 September.
While there has been no change in our understanding with the
local authorities on the eventual closure of the Kani Shaitan Camp, the
construction of 150 houses at Chamchamal for some of the 220 families in the
camp, which was scheduled for completion by mid-October, was unfortunately
delayed due to difficulties in providing construction materials. These houses
are now nearing completion, and the lists of the intended occupants are being
prepared by Habitat in consultation with the local authorities. Work continues
on a second project for 240 houses that will accommodate the remaining residents
of the camp. In the interim, we are consulting with the local authorities on an
alternate campsite at Chamchamal, which will be closed once all occupants have
been housed.
Unfortunately, however, the number of families at the Kani
Shaitan Camp appears to be increasing. I should like to assure the Council that
the inter-agency humanitarian programme will spare no effort to meet the
humanitarian needs of the displaced persons. In order to address the immediate
needs of the IDPs in the coming winter, we are implementing a specific project
to provide tents, heaters and blankets. Addressing their needs is not
sufficient, however. What is required is to address the causes that create the
displacement. I should like to encourage all factions in the north to continue
to refrain from activities that could cause an increase in the number of IDPs.
The Government of Iraq should also take urgent measures to stop the inflow of
IDPs into the north.
Inter-agency cooperation
I am pleased to inform you that there is a very good
inter-agency cooperation among all organizations of the United Nations system
involved in the implementation of the programme, both in the field as well as at
the headquarters level. We had a very productive inter-agency meeting in New
York on 17 and 18 October, convened by the Deputy Secretary-General, with
participation of the Humanitarian Coordinator and the representatives of all the
agencies and programmes in Iraq, as well as those of us working at our
respective headquarters.
The meeting was convened to take stock of four years of
implementation of the programme, to identify any additional requirements as well
as obstacles in the way of its improved implementation and to adopt measures to
address the problems encountered. All participants shared the view that it was
indeed a very constructive meeting, which will further strengthen the
implementation of the programme as well as inter-agency cooperation.
In view of the growing scale of the inter-agency humanitarian
programme in the three northern governorates, the United Nations is undertaking
broader range of activities to address immediate and underlying causes of
continuing humanitarian problems. In that connection, the multi-sectoral
planning and coordinating capacity of UNOHCI is being strengthened. The agencies
and programmes are also continuing to improve their implementation capacity as
well as providing local institutions with training and other resources needed to
support and sustain their activities.
Safety and security of staff in Iraq
In connection with the tragic event that took place in June
within the premises of the FAO office in Baghdad, where two staff members were
killed and eight persons, including four United Nations staff, sustained
injuries, I wish to inform the Council that a criminal court in Baghdad is
presently considering the case. The United Nations representatives are present
during the court proceedings. In consultation with the United Nations, the
Government of Iraq has taken the additional measures necessary for the safety
and security of the United Nations personnel.
*****
Mr. President,
As stated in the report before you, undoubtedly the
humanitarian situation in Iraq has generally improved since the inception of the
programme, but the lives of the ordinary Iraqis have not improved
commensurately. The absence of normal economic activity has given rise to the
spread of deep-seated poverty, to a point where to most Iraqis the monthly food
rations represent the largest proportion of their income. Without the necessary
purchasing power, they are forced to either barter or sell items from the food
basket in order to meet their other essential needs. As recommended by the
Secretary-General, consideration should be given by the Government of Iraq to
include in the next distribution plan, the provision of supplies to meet the
more specific needs of the poorest among the poor within the population. To meet
these specific needs, the Government may wish to further consider the
establishment of a new social sector under the programme that would, inter
alia, include, augment and enhance activities already being undertaken by
the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
In conclusion, I should like to end by stating the obvious.
By its very nature, the humanitarian programme in Iraq involves decisions and
actions as well as interaction among all concerned. The commitment to the
programme and cooperation of all are essential in order to ensure the full
potential of the programme. It is in this spirit that I should like to reiterate
the appeal of the Secretary-General for a renewed and concerted effort by all
towards alleviating the plight of the Iraqi people.
Before ending my statement, I should like to pay tribute to
the Chairman of the 661 Committee, His Excellency Amb. Peter van Walsum of the
Netherlands, for his distinguished leadership of the Committee. It has indeed
been a privilege and an honour to work very closely with him and also enjoy his
friendship. I should also like to express my sincere gratitude for all his
guidance and support, as well as his delegation’s support and cooperation. I
said it once, and I should like to repeat it: I truly admire his ocean of
patience in chairing the 661 Committee.
I also wish to thank all members of the Council and the
Committee for their support and cooperation in the difficult and demanding tasks
entrusted to the Office of the Iraq Programme.
