Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the establishment of UNAMI presence in Basra and Erbil

The Secretary-General intends to proceed with further expansion of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) presence in Iraq in implementation of the mandate given to him by the Security Council in resolution 1546 (2004). Stressing the high importance he attaches to the provision of essential security protection for the staff concerned, he has given instructions that the first steps be taken to assess the security conditions to establish UNAMI presence in Basra and in Erbil as soon as practicable.