Iraq, 2006

With

confidence, Iraq is making qualitative steps in the

transition to nationhood. Under extremely difficult

circumstances, Iraq is pursuing this goal and the

inherently complicated task of rebuilding the country.

Iraq continues courageously to reach for the promise of

a democratic, federal and pluralistic State, where

generations of long-oppressed Iraqis will regain their

dignity and freedom and their right to join the civilized

and progressive nations of the world.

As we make our way forward, we are keen to

establish a deep-rooted experiment with seeds from

Iraq’s authentically rich and enlightened ancient

heritage. We will pay attention to the lessons of older

civilizations in Iraq and the national diversity that

embodies the Iraqi vision.

The new Iraq has passed through crucial

transitional stages in an incredibly short period of time.

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The political process has been strengthened and

expanded through the participation of broader and

more effective social, political and civil forces. Last

year, the first parliamentary elections were held,

leading to the formation of a Transitional National

Assembly; these were followed by a national

referendum on a permanent constitution for the first

time in the history of modern Iraq. A second round of

elections was held on 15 December 2005, which

elected members of a Council of Representatives for a

four-year term. The Council convened on 1 February

2006.

These developments, supported by the will of the

Iraqi political forces and with the help of our friends,

have galvanized the Iraqi majority with its varied

political, social and intellectual background. They have

created a positive political process, which has

produced a Government of National Unity and

Salvation under the leadership of Prime Minister Nuri

al-Maliki.

The region of Iraqi Kurdistan elected a Council

of Representatives, followed by the formation of a

united Kurdistan Regional Government. This

demonstrates that political harmony does indeed exist

in the midst of the country’s broader political process.

It demonstrates significant development in our

economy, our culture and our social fabric as a whole

where security, stability and economic prosperity

prevail. A market economy has been successful and

prosperous for Iraq.

What we have achieved so far in the political

arena reflects a united national will to succeed in the

process of building an Iraq that can confront all of its

challenges, ranging from defeating the terrorists —

who label others as infidels — and extremist

ideologies, to achieving security and stability.

Terrorist operations and activities of those who

label others as infidels and organized crime groups in

our country are not merely characterized by the killing

of innocent people or provoking security chaos; they

also aim at destroying the country’s infrastructure and

hampering our ongoing efforts to rebuild the country

and place it firmly on the path of peace, security and

democracy.

We must emphasize that the forces of extremism,

those that oppose democracy and human values, are

intent on making Iraq a stepping stone for reaching

other goals and for wreaking even more destruction.

These forces comprise regional and Arab elements that

export their crises beyond their borders in the hope that

Iraq will prove to be fertile ground on which they can

deal with those crises by fighting their battles on Iraqi

soil and among the people of Iraq. Those groups are

mainly composed of remnants of the former dictatorial

regime in league with organized criminal elements,

themselves a product of the oppression of the old

regime and the lapses of security that followed its

collapse.

The supply line of money and weapons for those

groups extends to neighbouring Arab and regional

States. They are further supported by individuals who

infiltrate the borders, many of them Al-Qaida

operatives and runaway Saddamists. Such groups

harbour the illusion that they can suppress the will of

our people by continuing to kill, terrorize and spread

despair among innocent Iraqis.

To confront such evil intent, national

determination will flourish, welcoming all the people

of Iraq to participate in the process of building a

national consensus. The Prime Minister has launched a

national reconciliation plan in the hope of providing

the protection and conditions that are necessary for

political stability, calm and security. This initiative was

formulated and developed through the contributions of

a number of political parties holding seats in

parliament and represented on Iraq’s National Security

Council. That is how the first steps towards success

were taken. The initiative has received the support of

several political opposition groups, including militant

groups that were previously part of the armed

opposition.

We continue to make efforts within the tripartite

Presidential Council — the President, the Prime

Minister and the Speaker of the Legislature — to

expand the range of participation for groups that are

genuinely interested in the initiative, regardless of their

intellectual, political or organizational orientation. We

are encouraging them to join the national effort until

all forces are mobilized to bring about political

stability and security in Iraq. As we are working

tirelessly for a secure and stable Iraq, we are also

striving to re-establish an advanced and developed

State where everybody can enjoy peace and security.

We aspire to that not only for Iraq, but also for all

States of the Middle East. This reflects Iraq’s concern,

despite its preoccupation with its internal situation,

9 06-53317

about the suffering of its Arab brothers, especially the

Palestinians.

Iraq recognizes the implications of the

destruction suffered by the brotherly State of Lebanon

and its proud people as a result of the Israeli military

onslaught. Therefore, we call for implementation of the

resolutions of international legitimacy for resolving the

Palestinian question, which is at the core of this

chronic conflict. We call for implementation of

Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) concerning

the brotherly State of Lebanon, which deserves

sympathy and genuine support through funding and

technology from all civilized nations, not solely from

its Arab brethren.

The ongoing crises and wars in our region impose

an enormous responsibility on the international

community and the States of the region themselves to

reach a just and permanent political settlement that

would defuse crises, conflicts and wars. It also makes

it incumbent upon us to reach a just and lasting peace

that rids the area — and humanity — of the scourge of

war, bloody conflict and terrorism.

Iraq, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, has

endorsed the latest decisions of the League of Arab

States. Therefore, I call on the international community

to accept these fair, logical proposals that are capable

of ending strife and achieving security and peace for

the peoples of the region.

States with influence at the international level

have weightier responsibilities because of the strategic

importance of the Middle East with respect to the

policies, economies and global objectives of those

influential States. They should, therefore, adopt a

decisive approach in endorsing solutions that respect

the rights and interests of the States and peoples of the

region, as provided for in United Nations resolutions

and human rights law. The decisive factor in

establishing a firm foundation for a regional

understanding, leading to just solutions, to a permanent

peace based on transparency and the principle of

respect for the rights of all parties and to stability in

the Middle East, is embodied in collaborative efforts,

the will of neighbouring countries and a serious resolve

to defeat terrorism and eliminate its hotbeds and

causes. A global war on terrorism limited only to

military means will not be sufficient to defeat

terrorism. We should, therefore, explore and adopt

political, economic and other means and tools to

strengthen the elements that will lead to victory in that

war. In our view, it is beneficial here to consider

General Assembly resolution 60/4, which calls on

Governments, the United Nations and civil society

organizations to develop ways and means in that

direction and to work to promote a culture of peace and

to condemn violence. It also calls for the formulation

of ways and means to expand the circle of dialogue

among civilizations in its religious, cultural and civil

society dimensions.

What I have referred to serves to strengthen

Iraq’s vision of making the Middle East a zone free of

weapons of mass destruction — especially nuclear

weapons — similar to zones in Africa and Latin

America. Such zones safeguard the right of countries to

develop technical capacity for the scientific and

peaceful use of nuclear energy in order to achieve the

goals of sustainable development. In that regard, I

would like to emphasize that, in accordance with its

permanent constitution and its higher national interests,

the new Iraq is committed not to produce such

weapons. Iraq will also join the Chemical Weapons

Convention and other international instruments

pertaining to such weapons.

We would like to take this opportunity to

emphasize that there are no weapons of mass

destruction of any type in the new Iraq, as has been

confirmed in the reports of the most recent United

Nations team to visit Iraq. Given that fact, and taking

into account the interests of our country, we urge the

Security Council to dissolve the United Nations

Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission

(UNMOVIC), either by decommissioning it or by

transforming it into an international body associated

with the United Nations and funded through the

Organization’s regular budget. UNMOVIC, which in

its current form is financed through Iraqi accounts, is a

waste of Iraq’s resources. Our people are in desperate

need of those funds at this point in our country’s

development.

Major international objectives can only be

achieved by joining efforts and harnessing the goodwill

of the international community in the service of all

humankind. The United Nations has taken it upon itself

to play a constructive role in establishing global

environment conducive to international peace and

security.

06-53317 10

Changes on the international stage oblige us to

keep abreast of progress in every field, so as to enable

the United Nations to carry out its functions. That

should be done by better utilizing resources and

capabilities to benefit the peoples of the world, as well

as by strengthening the role of the Organization in the

maintenance of international peace and security. There

is also a need to respect the principle of the equality of

all countries and their right to participate in the

formulation and adoption of decisions and policies that

affect the international community.

We also need to establish appropriate democratic

mechanisms to make possible the participation of

countries with the desire and capabilities to support

efforts and decisions conducive to the implementation

of programmes and the achievement of our common

goals. In that connection, we believe that the reform of

the international Organization must take account of the

interests of all, and must seek to bring about equality

and justice by reaching a balance through transparency

and consensus.

In the light of those principles, Iraq appreciates

the effective role played by the United Nations to

resolve international problems. We are grateful to

Mr. Ashraf Qazi, the Special Representative of the

Secretary-General for Iraq for the role he is playing.

Iraq hopes that the specialized agencies and

programmes of the United Nations will return to Iraq to

resume their part in its development and

reconstruction.

In that context, I cannot fail to refer to the

International Compact with Iraq. The Compact is the

result of an initiative by the Government of Iraq to

establish an international contact group that brings

together countries and organizations willing to help

Iraq and promote its reconstruction efforts. The group

will also help establish a sustainable partnership

between Iraq and the international community to

overcome the challenges resulting from our economic

and political transition. It is our hope that the

international community will fulfil its obligations by

providing the resources required to address key

priorities and achieve a common vision in the

framework of an economic transformation process and

a sustainable development programme through agreed

mechanisms.

I express our gratitude to the ministers for foreign

affairs who took part in the successful meeting on the

Compact that was held in this building a few days ago.

The meeting proved that the new Iraq is no longer

isolated from the international community. It also

illustrated the fact that the new Iraq is on its way to

assuming its proper place in a free and developed

world.

With regard to reconstruction and the

commitments of donor States towards Iraq, we would

like to thank those States that are providing assistance

to effectively contribute to generating optimism vis-à-

vis leaving the past behind, launching the reform

process and achieving comprehensive development.

However, we also look forward to further support and

determination in fulfilling those commitments, because

we believe that launching reconstruction projects and

stimulating the economy will be decisive in

strengthening the security situation and restoring

stability to Iraq, the region and the whole world. In that

connection, I would like to emphasize that, with our

free national will, we are committed to moving forward

in reconstructing and implementing our national

development programmes and plans.

We believe that it is our right to seek the

cancellation of the numerous and exorbitant

reparations payments and debts of the new democratic

Iraq, which must not be made to pay for the sins of a

dictatorship that committed many crimes against its

people and betrayed the nation. Iraq believes that

achieving sustainable development goes hand in hand

with respecting human rights, providing security,

achieving justice, ensuring the fair distribution of

wealth and developing the agricultural, economic and

service sectors.

In order to rise to the challenge posed by those

tasks, we must respect women and their rights and

ensure that they play their role in the development

process and in the political arena. That goal has now

become a firm principle in our pursuits, as stipulated in

the Iraqi constitution, which confirmed the right of

women to contribute to our country by holding no less

than 25 per cent of the seats in the Council of

Representatives. Iraqi women also now head four

ministries in the Iraq Government of National Unity.

In conclusion, I would like to address anyone and

everyone who harbours doubts that we are as

committed and determined as we were three years ago

11 06-53317

to achieving national reconciliation. I assure them that

the reconciliation process is a promising one. It is

receiving all possible support and is moving forward

with the backing of all political blocs. Our efforts will

be focused on making reconciliation a permanent

living reality that reflects the aspirations and hopes of

the people of Iraq. That is especially so given that

important steps have been taken that have resulted in

national consensus and support from all the influential

political forces in the country. We have also succeeded

in charting a road map to resolve all remaining key

issues, including those pertaining to the constitution,

federal regions, militias, oil, de-Baathification and the

new national flag, emblem and anthem.

As we underscore our determination, we also

express the hope that Arab and regional parties,

including neighbouring countries in particular, will

share our determination and make every effort to halt

any activities, support for or encouragement of the

forces of terrorism — including those who label others

as infidels and the remnants of dictatorial fascist gangs

in the country. We also call upon neighbouring States

to take the necessary measures to seal their borders

against infiltrators.

We reaffirm our keen desire for security and

safety for all our neighbours. We also express our

adherence to the principle of non-intervention in the

internal affairs of other States, so as to prevent our

territory from being used as a staging ground to carry

out acts against our neighbours. However, our people’s

patience is wearing thin, in particular when we see the

blood of our innocent sons and daughters being spilled

and defiled, our infrastructure destroyed, our mosques

and holy shrines ruined and the rebuilding of our

armed forces and security services impeded in an

attempt to delay the achievement of full sovereignty. It

is difficult for our political leadership to keep quiet

forever.

The ferocity of the terrorist attacks that target our

people and country will not dissuade us from working

persistently and with unwavering determination to

defeat the terrorists. In so doing, we shall rely on our

people’s vigilance, our political forces and our military

and security capabilities, which are visibly being

developed and strengthened in a number of Iraq’s

governorates as the tide of terrorism recedes.

The building of Iraq’s national armed forces and

its strengthening to the desired levels continues apace,

in an effort to ensure that our capabilities reach the

necessary level, degree of competency and readiness to

gradually bring about the departure of Coalition forces

from our country. Those forces are present in Iraq in

accordance with an international resolution. In the

current circumstances, their presence is essential as we

carry out the task of building up our armed forces that

will be capable of putting an end to terrorism and of

maintaining stability and security. Once that has been

achieved, it will then be possible to talk about a

timetable for the withdrawal of multinational forces

from Iraq.

The President returned to the Chair.

At this point, I would like once again to express

our gratitude to the forces that participated in liberating

our country from the worst dictatorship in history. In

particular, we would like to thank President George W.

Bush for his leadership in the campaign to liberate Iraq

from tyranny and opening up the way for a new,

democratic, pluralistic and federal Iraq that is at peace

with itself and the world. That historic mission has

well served the people of Iraq and peace and security

in the region.

In conclusion, allow me, on behalf of the people

and Government of Iraq to congratulate you, Madam

President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, on your

election to preside over the General Assembly at its

sixty-first session. We wish you every success in

achieving the goals set for this session, and we reaffirm

our determination to cooperate with you fully in that

noble undertaking.

I also wish to take this opportunity to express our

gratitude and appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi

Annan for his dedicated efforts to re-energize the

United Nations to work towards international peace

and security and to promote development and respect

for human rights throughout the world.