Iraq, 2009

Permit me

to congratulate our brother and friend Mr. Ali

Abdussalam Treki on his assumption of the presidency

of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. Let

me assure him of our delegation’s assistance and

support as he discharges his task. Given his wisdom

and experience, we are certain that he will successfully

fulfil the tasks assigned to him and further the

objectives of the United Nations. I would like also to

thank his predecessor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann,

for his presidency of the General Assembly during the

previous session.

The current political process in Iraq, ongoing

since the collapse of the former regime in 2003, has

produced radical political change, pushing towards

building a unified, independent and democratic federal

Iraq with respected constitutional institutions.

Realizing these objectives has not been easy and has

not been without challenges, chief among which were

domestic and regional forces attempting to return Iraq

to the period prior to the change. These forces have

used various means to attain that goal, including

committing the worst of crimes, allying themselves

with organized crime and joining with networks of

international terrorism to disrupt the security and

stability of Iraq.

Significant developments have taken place in Iraq

since I stood here last year. The most important of

them were the signing of the agreement with the

United States on the withdrawal of its troops,

organization of the American forces’ temporary

presence in Iraq and the signing of the Strategic

Framework Agreement with the United States. Based

on that agreement, United States troops withdrew from

Iraqi cities at the end of last June, and Iraqi forces

assumed responsibility for security throughout Iraq.

The security situation has greatly improved under the

Government of National Unity, thanks to its tireless

endeavours towards national dialogue and national

reconciliation projects. These efforts seek to include all

political parties and social groups, within the political

process and outside it, that believe in the peaceful

transfer of power. The Iraqi Government is also

continuing its policy of imposing law and order in

confronting terrorist groups, armed militias and

outlaws, including those working to sabotage the

political process and undermine security and stability

in Iraq and the region.

The year’s great successes for Iraq have brought

progress in its external relations. This year witnessed

high-level visits from Arab, regional and other

international Powers, many of which reopened their

embassies in Baghdad. This has taken place within the

framework of the Iraqi Government’s efforts to restore

its international standing. The Iraqi Government will

continue to deepen its good-neighbour policy of

friendship and cooperation in order to restore its role in

the Arab, regional and international communities, and

to promote security and stability in the region.

The economic situation also saw significant

improvement through a number of economic and

financial laws enacted by the Iraqi Government, which

led to increased personal income, purchasing power

and social welfare services for our citizens. The Iraqi

Government prepared an ambitious budget for this

year, aiming not only at reconstruction, but also at

building a sound and healthy economy to promote

progress and general prosperity. The Iraqi Government

has reviewed this budget and its economic programmes

in the light of the financial crisis facing the world.

Improvements in the economic sphere have

encouraged a significant number of internally and

externally displaced Iraqis to voluntarily return to the

country. The Iraqi Government has taken a series of

practical measures and decisions aimed at facilitating

the voluntary return of displaced Iraqis because it

believes that the best solution for them is to return to

their homeland. We therefore call upon States hosting

Iraqi refugees and on international and civil society

organizations aiding refugees to help promote a culture

of voluntary return, because Iraq needs the capacities

of all Iraqis to help build the future of their country.

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The most important challenge we face in the near

future is the round of legislative elections scheduled

for January 2010, for which the political parties have

already started preparations. Successful elections will

solidify the current political regime’s basis in

democracy, pluralism and the peaceful transfer of

power. Successful elections will move the political

process forward from this initial stage to one of

permanence and stability and will promote stability and

security in Iraq. They will also help us build national

institutions strong enough to support a State that is

based on law and order, that is at peace with its own

people and its neighbours and that is a solid force for

security and stability in the region. This in turn will

improve Iraq’s Arab, regional and world relations and

foster its active return to the international community.

The real danger currently facing Iraq is outside

interference in its internal affairs. The forces of such

interference have committed the worst crimes against

innocent Iraqis from many segments of society — men,

women, children and the elderly. In an attempt to derail

the security and stability achieved in Iraq during 2008

and 2009, they have recently engaged in a series of

criminal bombings and terrorist attacks, the most

recent of which were the Bloody Wednesday

explosions of 19 August 2009, which targeted the Iraqi

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance —

sovereign institutions of the country. These attacks

killed many innocent victims, including many

Government employees, as well as foreign

administrators and diplomats.

These criminal acts claiming such large numbers

of victims have reached the level of genocide and

crimes against humanity, which are subject to

punishment under international law. We believe that

acts at this level of organization, complexity and

magnitude could not have been planned, funded and

implemented without the support of external forces and

parties. Indeed, preliminary investigations and

evidence indicate the involvement of external parties in

these attacks.

Therefore, the Government of the Republic of

Iraq wishes to place this important matter before the

Secretary-General. Because of the nature and scope of

the crimes committed, which require an investigation

beyond Iraq’s jurisdiction, we request the Security

Council to form an international independent

investigation commission to refer those responsible to

a special international criminal court. The Iraqi

Government found itself obliged to turn to the United

Nations to protect its people and stop the

haemorrhaging of innocent Iraqi lives. We seek the

international community’s support and assistance in

establishing an independent international commission

to investigate the crimes of terrorism against the Iraqi

people and to label those crimes as genocide.

We look forward to improved cooperation and

coordination with neighbouring countries and other

concerned States to protect Iraq’s borders, exchange

information, coordinate efforts, and to thwart groups

that support terrorism and work against Iraq under any

cover.

We are currently working towards the settlement

of issues regarding Iraq vis-à-vis the Security Council;

these were inherited from the former regime and led to

commitments which we are attempting to meet. Iraq

will continue to work with relevant parties and

stakeholders at the United Nations to reach a

settlement satisfactory to all parties and without

prejudice to our obligations under Security Council

resolutions.

As a result of major positive developments that

have taken place in Iraq since the fall of the former

regime and the removal of the dictatorship, the current

situation is fundamentally different from the situation

that existed when the Security Council adopted

resolution 661 (1990).

Along with the adoption of Security Council

resolution 1859 (2008) and the report of the Secretary-

General pursuant to paragraph 5 of that resolution

(S/2009/385), this shows that the time has come for the

Security Council to act in response to the Secretary-

General’s report pursuant to the aforementioned

resolution, and on the basis of its responsibility for the

maintenance of international peace and security. It

should review resolutions relevant to Iraq adopted

under Chapter VII, starting with resolution 661 (1990),

with a view to restoring Iraq’s international standing.

Here, I must point out that since the collapse of

the former regime in 2003, Iraq has been eager to

respect international legitimacy and to deal with

Security Council resolutions relevant to Iraq and to the

situation between Iraq and brotherly Kuwait with the

highest degree of responsibility and respect.

The current Iraqi Government inherited political

and financial burdens and difficult commitments from

09-52425 26

the former regime through dozens of resolutions issued

against the former regime because of its domestic

practices and foreign policies. The Iraqi people are still

bearing the consequences. After more than six years of

hard and continuous work with the United Nations and

its agencies, and within the framework of international

and bilateral cooperation, Iraq has proven its desire and

determination to return to the international community

with all its resources and capabilities.

Therefore, because the situation which

necessitated the adoption of the aforementioned

resolutions no longer exists, we request a clear

resolution by the Security Council to terminate all

resolutions issued under Chapter VII which affected

the sovereignty of Iraq and gave rise to financial

obligations that are still binding on Iraq.

We and the Iraqi people look forward to the day

when Iraq is released from Chapter VII sanctions. In

this regard, I must point to the positive role of the

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

in providing advice and assistance. The promotion of

mutual endeavours and cooperation between Iraq and

the United Nations, and improved results of that

cooperation in many fields, pursuant to Security

Council resolution 1770 (2007) and other resolutions,

require that the United Nations agencies and

institutions step up their presence in Iraq, undertake

field activities and re-open their offices in Baghdad, as

other diplomatic missions have done.

The Iraqi Constitution sets the basic principles of

Iraq’s foreign policy, which focus on good-

neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs

of other countries, the peaceful settlement of disputes

and establishing international relations based on

common interests and respect of Iraq’s international

obligations. These are the established principles of

Iraq’s foreign policy.

On this basis, we seek to establish the best

possible relations with other Arab and Islamic

countries and are committed to the decisions of the

League of Arab States and the Organization of the

Islamic Conference. Accordingly, we endorse and

support the struggle of the Palestinian people to uphold

their inalienable rights, including the right to establish

the State of Palestine on the land of Palestine.

We are also working to implement the legitimate

international resolutions concerning the return of

occupied Arab land. We consider the Arab Peace

Initiative to be a practical step in the right direction

towards resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in order to

achieve security, peace and stability in the Middle East.

We call for the Middle East to be made a zone free of

nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass

destruction, so as to promote opportunities to achieve

peace and security in the region.

In this context, we call upon all States that have

not yet acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Treaty to do so and to be bound by its provisions.

Following years of isolation during the previous

regime, Iraq seeks to form a new integrated economic

partnership with the international community through

the International Compact with Iraq. The Iraqi

Government, in cooperation with the United Nations, is

working towards convening the second review

conference, to be held in Baghdad next November. We

will seek the greatest degree of international

participation at the conference, following on from the

success of the first review conference, held in

Stockholm last year.

The current political process in Iraq is aimed at

building a federal, democratic and unified Iraq where

the Iraqi people work under constitutional institutions,

the rule of law, protection of human rights and full

respect for all segments of society. We attach key

importance to our ability and potential, as a country

rich in natural and human resources, to achieve these

goals.

However, at this most critical stage, we need

political and economic support and international

cooperation to gain firm footing that will enable us to

move towards a future where we will be able not only

to develop our country and our people but also to

cooperate with the international community in

achieving peace, security and sustainable development

for all peoples.