Pakistan Mission to United Nations
Statement In Security Council
By Ambassador Munir Akram In The Security Council On The Situation In Iraq (22 July 2003)
Madam President,
- It is an honour and pleasure to see you once again here with us to
preside this important meeting. The importance of this meeting has been made
obvious by the statements which we have heard from the distinguished
Secretary General, whose presence we welcome this morning, as well as from
his Special Representative in Iraqi Sergio de Mello.
- These statements have been made pursuant to resolution 1483 of the
Security Council. We are happy to note that the United Nations staff in Iraq
continues to serve as the eyes and ears of the international community. The
incisive analysis of the Secretary General’s report and the statements that
we have heard reflect this adequately. We appreciate, in particular, Mr. De
Mello’s statement and would like to take this opportunity to express our
appreciation for all related UN agencies who have worked in Iraq throughout
the difficult days before resolution 1472 and 1483 were adopted to continue
to provide for the basic needs of the Iraqi people.
Madam President,
- The civilizations of the Tigris and Euphrates have enjoyed over the
millennia the close ties with the Indus Valley civilization. The peoples of
Pakistan and Iraq are bound by the ties of history, faith and culture and
close cooperation in the days before repression and war afflicted this great
and dynamic country. Throughout the recent months, Pakistan has always
guided by the interests of the people of Iraq at every stage of
deliberations in the Council. On 27 March, following the conflict, my
delegation stated here that the principles which must guide the Council
include the following:
- Respect for the political independence, unity, territorial
integrity of Iraq and its neighbouring states;
- The right of the Iraqi people to choose their own political
destiny and form of Government and to exercise their right to
self-determination;
- Non-intervention and non-interference in their internal
affairs;
- Permanent sovereignty and control over their natural
resources.
- Respect for the religious and cultural traditions of the
people of Iraq and sanctity of the holy places which are among
most venerated in the Islamic world;
- The right of Iraqi nation to economic and social
reconstruction.
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Madam President,
- We believe that these principles remain the framework and guiding
objectives which must be promoted by the Security Council and the
international community.
- We believe that the restoration of peace internal stability in Iraq is
in the interest of the Iraqi people, in the interest of the neighbouring
countries and in the interest of the international community. In Iraq today
there are enormous challenges, security, restoration of services,
reconstruction, governance and administration of justice. But as in any
crisis, these challenges are accompanied by opportunity- opportunity to
revive Iraq’s potential, as the leading nation in Arab, Islamic and the
developing world. The people who have suffered so much deserve no less.
Madam President,
- The Security Council has, following the recent conflict, sought to
realize these objectives. Resolution 1472 and 1483 affirmed the basic
principles of this policy that must guide us all including the Coalition
Forces in the process of humanitarian and other help to Iraqi people, in
securing the earliest and full restoration of Iraq’s sovereignty and
political independence.
- The Secretary General report reflects developments from the perspective
of the United Nations. We commend the efforts deployed by the Secretary
General’s Special Representative, his deputy and various UN agencies
particularly the World Food Programme, as noted by the Secretary General in
his report, which has reactivated public food distribution system. This is
no mean achievement given the massive dependence of the Iraqi people on the
public rationing system.
Madam President,
- In his report, the Secretary General has noted that the primary concern
in Iraq remains the restoration of the internal security which is threatened
mainly by organized and unorganized crime and violence. General lawlessness
has resulted in looting and sabotage of key infrastructure. Attacks by those
who are presumed loyalist of the previous regime or the opponents of the
Coalition Authority are also impeding the stabilizing actions. In the words
of the Secretary General, and I quote “the lack of security affects every
aspect of life in Iraq today in a fundamental way” The establishment of
internal security is a prelude and precondition to normalization of
political, economic and social conditions.
- We believe that in promoting security certain essentials must be borne
in mind:
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First A strengthened indigenous mechanism is
a sine qua non for halting looting and sabotage that engenders
uncertainty and fear and prevents humanitarian operations and
rehabilitation of basic services. Although he Coalition Provisional
Authority is primarily responsible for security in Iraq, we believe
that the nature of security operations can be improved by enlisting
the support and participation of the Iraqi people for these
operations.
Second Security operations need to be conducted in a way that
are sensitive to the welfare and sentiments of the Iraqi people, and
sensitive to their cultural and religious values. To move the
popular sentiments in Iraq, from suspicious to trust and from
skepticism to hope, it is essential to expedite the process of
transition to represent the Government by the Iraqi people. |
Madam President,
- Security is, of course, the responsibility of the Coalition Provisional
Authority. The United Nations’ assistance in building and training Iraqi
police and security forces can be promoted and enlarged under provisions of
paragraph 8 of resolution 1483. This resolution, as we noted on 21st May,
also opened the doors to the friends of Iraq to contribute to the welfare of
the Iraqi people, including for the creation of an environment of peace and
security in the area. Clearly such contributions from Iraq’s friends, who
share common values with the people of Iraq, should be in response to the
wishes and desires of the Iraqi people themselves.
Madam President,
- In operating paragraph 9 of resolution 1483, it was envisaged that there
would be an early creation of Iraqi Interim Authority. The Secretary General
has emphasized and I quote “the need for an Iraqi body widely accepted as
representative so that the key issues facing Iraq can begin to be addressed
by Iraqis themselves”. Pakistan believes that the formation of the Governing
Council is a welcome first step in the direction of returning governance and
sovereignty to the people of Iraq as soon as possible. We welcome the
presence here of Mr. Adnan Pachahi, Mr. Chalabi, Ms. Aqila Hashmi, members
of the Governing Council in our meeting today.
Madam President,
- The Security Council in its resolution 1483 has expressed its resolve
that the day Iraqis will govern themselves must come quickly. In this
context, the Secretary General has also indicated the need for setting up a
clear and specific and sequence of events leading to the end of military
occupation in Iraq. Establishment of the recognized representative
Government in Iraq is the eventual destination of the political process in
Iraq under resolution 1483. The UN is well placed to assist the Iraqi people
in this process. We hope that CPA, in coordination with the United Nations,
will chalk out a course of events leading up to early restoration of Iraq’s
sovereignty. United Nations’ engagement in this process would enhance its
legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the international community, more
importantly in the eyes of the Iraqi people themselves.
Madam President,
- The economic independence of Iraqi people constitutes a fundamental
element of their national sovereignty. The administration of Iraq’s economic
and natural resources is a trust which was given to the Coalition Authority
under resolution 1483 as a temporary measure due to the exigencies of the
situation. The administration of Iraq’s resources must be transparent and
consistent with the provisions of international law and resolution 1483 In
particular, we would like to indicate that the Security Council under
paragraph 12 of resolution 1483 decided that the International Advisory and
Monitoring Board would not only advise but also monitor the transactions of
the Development Funds. We hope that this consideration will be fully
reflected in the revised regulation of the International Advisory and
Monitoring Board.
- Secondly, the provision of basic services has a direct and reciprocal
relationship with the establishment of security. Iraq Oil for Food Programme
has catered to the needs of the Iraqi people for many years. We need to
consider how to retain the basic operational capacity created under the Oil
for Food Programme to deliver basic needs and reconstruction requirements of
the Iraqi people.
Madam President,
- Iraq faces gigantic task of economic and social reconstruction and
rehabilitation. We believe that the United Nations is best suited to lead
and coordinate the international efforts in this direction.
Madam President,
- Pakistan has maintained that the Security Council in its deliberation on
Iraq has broadly reflected the sentiments of the world peoples. The Security
Council and the United Nations have demonstrated extraordinary unity after
the war to move the situation towards normalization. Resolution 1472 and
1483 represent the sincere efforts on behalf of the Security Council and the
international community to come together to protect and promote the
interests of the Iraqi people. The Secretary General and the Special
Representative has already made significant contribution to this end. They
must be provided full support for the realization of the on-going task
listed in paragraph 98 of the report and to exploring ways and means to
broaden the contribution of the United Nations in the areas outlined in
para-99 of the report.
- Pakistan stands ready to extend all possible assistance and cooperation
to the Iraqi people to realize their aspirations- to maintain their unity,
restore their sovereignty, regain their control over their natural resources
and to re-establish relations of fraternity and friendship with all their
neighbours and other states of the region.