Security Council

6369^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Mission in Iraq

 

until 31 July 2011, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1936 (2010)

 

The Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for another year, until 31 July 2011, calling on Member States for continued support.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1936 (2010), the Council determined that the mandate of the Mission would remain unchanged, taking into account the request of the Iraqi Government, but expressed an intention to review the mandate in 12 months or sooner, if requested by the Government.

Through the text, the Council underlined the importance of security for United Nations operations in the country, and called upon the Government and other Member States to continue to provide security and logistical support, along with sufficient financial and material resources.

In his most recent report on Iraq, presented to the Council on 4 August (see Press Release SC/10002), the Secretary-General emphasizes the continued importance of UNAMI in assisting the political progress and development efforts, but says that the Mission was in an “extremely complex operating environment”.  In that context, he says it must inevitably deal with the impact of the planned drawdown of United States forces in the country.

The meeting was opened at 10:04 a.m. and closed at 10:07 a.m.

The full text of resolution 1936 (2010) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq, in particular 1500 (2003) of 14 August 2003, 1546 (2004) of 8 June 2004, 1557 (2004) of 12 August 2004, 1619 (2005) of 11 August 2005, 1700 (2006) of 10 August 2006, 1770 (2007) of 10 August 2007, 1830 (2008) of 7 August 2008, and 1883 (2009) of 7 August 2009,

“Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq,

“Emphasizing the importance of the stability and security of Iraq for the people of Iraq, the region and the international community,

“Encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue strengthening democracy and the rule of law, improving security and public order and combating terrorism and sectarian violence across the country, and reiterating its support to the people and the Government of Iraq in their efforts to build a secure, stable, federal, united and democratic nation, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights,

“Welcoming improvements in the security situation in Iraq achieved through concerted political and security efforts and stressing that challenges to security in Iraq still exist and that improvements need to be sustained through meaningful political dialogue and national unity,

“Underscoring the need for all communities in Iraq to participate in the political process and an inclusive political dialogue, to refrain from making statements and actions which could aggravate tensions, to reach a comprehensive solution on the distribution of resources, and develop a just and fair solution for the nation’s disputed internal boundaries and work towards national unity,

“Reaffirming the importance of the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), in advising, supporting and assisting the Iraqi people and Government to strengthen democratic institutions, advance inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, facilitate regional dialogue, aid vulnerable groups, including refugees and internally displaced persons, strengthen gender equality, promote the protection of human rights and promote judicial and legal reform, and emphasizing the importance of the United Nations, in particular UNAMI, prioritizing advice, support and assistance to the Iraqi people and Government to achieve these goals,

“Congratulating the people and the Government of Iraq on the holding of the 7 March parliamentary election and the Federal Supreme Court certification of the results, and calling on Iraq’s leaders to form, in an inclusive political process, a Government as quickly as possible, and in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution, that represents the will and sovereignty of the Iraqi people and their hope for a strong, independent, unified and democratic Iraq,

“Commending UNAMI’s efforts to assist the Independent High Electoral Commission and the Iraqi Government in the development of processes for holding successful Iraqi national parliamentary elections in March 2010, and stressing the importance of the transparency, impartiality and independence of the Independent High Electoral Commission,

“Urging the Government of Iraq to address human rights challenges and concerns and also to consider additional steps to support the Independent High Commission for Human Rights,

“Expressing the importance of addressing humanitarian issues confronting the Iraqi people and stressing the need to continue to form a coordinated response and to provide adequate resources to address these issues,

“Underscoring the sovereignty of the Government of Iraq, reaffirming that all parties should continue to take all feasible steps and to develop modalities to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including children, women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and should create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, welcoming commitments and encouraging continued efforts of the Government of Iraq for the relief of internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees, and noting the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, based on its mandate, in providing continued advice and support to the Government of Iraq, in coordination with UNAMI on these issues,

“Stressing the importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1882 (2009), including through the appointment of child protection advisers in UNAMI, as appropriate,

“Urging all those concerned, as set forth in international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Regulations, to allow full unimpeded access by humanitarian personnel to all people in need of assistance, and to make available, as far as possible, all necessary facilities for their operations, and to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel and their assets,

“Recognizing the importance of Iraq achieving international standing equal to that which it held prior to the adoption of resolution 661 (1990), welcoming Iraq’s application of the Additional Protocol provisionally pending ratification and reaffirming the importance of the ratification by Iraq as soon as possible, welcoming also the intention of the Government of Iraq to sign the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, and calling on the Government of Iraq to take all other necessary steps to meet its outstanding obligations, including to work with due haste and diligence to close the Oil for Food programme;

“Thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ad Melkert for his efforts and strong leadership of UNAMI, and expressing deep gratitude to all the United Nations staff in Iraq for their courageous and tireless efforts,

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) until 31 July 2011;

“2.   Decides further that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNAMI, at the request of the Government of Iraq, and taking into account the letter of 28 July 2010 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq to the Secretary General (S/2010/404, annex), shall continue to pursue their mandate as stipulated in resolution 1883 (2009);

“3.   Recognizes that security of United Nations personnel is essential for UNAMI to carry out its work for the benefit of the people of Iraq and calls upon the Government of Iraq and other Member States to continue to provide security and logistical support to the United Nations presence in Iraq;

“4.   Welcomes the contributions of Member States in providing UNAMI with the financial, logistical, and security resources and support that it needs to fulfil its mission, and calls upon Member States to continue to provide UNAMI with sufficient resources and support;

“5.   Expresses its intention to review the mandate of UNAMI in 12 months or sooner, if requested by the Government of Iraq;

“6.   Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every four months on the progress made towards the fulfilment of all UNAMI’s responsibilities; and

“7.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record