16 December 2010

United Nations Lifts Sanctions on Iraq

By MacKenzie C. Babb
Staff Writer

Washington — In a meeting chaired by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, the United Nations Security Council voted December 15 to lift three key international sanctions on Iraq. Biden said the vote acknowledges the “significant steps Iraq has taken” toward fulfilling its international obligations.

“Iraq is on the cusp of something remarkable: a stable, self-reliant nation; a just, representative and accountable government; and a positive force for peace and stability in the region,” Biden said at the 15-nation Security Council meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York.

“As a founding member of the United Nations, Iraq seeks and deserves the opportunity to resume its rightful role in the community of nations,” Biden said. “Toward that end, this session formally acknowledges the significant steps Iraq has taken toward fulfilling its obligations to the United Nations incurred in the lead-up to the 1991 Gulf War.”

Sanctions first were imposed on Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

In a December 15 statement, the Security Council said it recognizes that “the situation now existing in Iraq is significantly different” from when the sanctions resolutions were adopted. And while mandates remain for Iraq to resolve disputes with Kuwait, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari praised the council’s decision to recognize his country’s progress.

“After years of being sanctioned by Security Council resolutions due to … Saddam’s regime, I think today we closed a dark chapter,” he said. “I think this shows that Iraq is coming back truly to its rightful place among the community of nations.”

The council voted to remove mandates on Iraq aimed at preventing the country from building weapons of mass destruction. Iraq now is free to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.

Biden said the decision was “in recognition of Iraq’s commitment to nonproliferation” and its compliance with international treaties.

A second resolution formally ends the Oil-for-Food program, and the third returns control of Iraq’s gas and oil revenue to its government starting July 1, 2011.

“The adoption of these important resolutions marks the beginning of the end of the sanctions regime, and restrictions on Iraq's sovereignty, independence and recovery,” Zebari told the council.

“Our people will rejoice for having turned a chapter on the aggressive, belligerent and defiant behavior of the previous regime toward international law and legitimacy.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also praised the resolutions, calling their passage a “milestone” for Iraq.

“We recognize how far the country has come in key aspects of its journey to normalize its status in the community of nations,” he said.

He commended the resilience of the Iraqi people and pledged continued U.N. support to help them along “the path of prosperity and peace.”

Biden also pledged continued U.S. support “to reinforce the progress being made in Iraq.”

“To be sure, Iraq faces further challenges on the road to security and prosperity,” he said. “But I firmly believe that despite these challenges, Iraq’s best days are ahead.”

While the U.S. mission has transitioned from military-led engagement to civilian-led engagement, 50,000 troops will remain to advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts through 2011.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)