Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC briefing on the situation in Iraq
We thank SRSG Hennis-Plasschaert for her substantive briefing on the situation in Iraq. We note the role and the contribution of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to ensuring stabilization in the country.
We welcome that the government of Iraq implemented its international obligations to pay out compensations to all claimants for the losses and damages that occurred as a result of the events of 1990. In this regard, we supported the final report if the UN Compensation Commission for Iraq and adoption of resolution 2561 that concluded its mandate.
We are concerned over the remaining instability in Iraq that is aggravated by the complex socio-economic situation amidst spreading coronavirus. We hope that Iraq’s spare resources (that it will have now that all compensation payments have been made) will add to the well-being of the Iraqi society. The international community, in its turn, should support Baghdad as it elaborates comprehensive measures aimed at recovering the country’s socio-economic and humanitarian sectors.
We welcome endorsement at the end of last year of the long-term results of elections to the Council of Representatives of Iraq that took place in October 2021. We trust that the parties that have made it to the parliament will be able to agree in a timely manner on a candidature for president and composition of the new government that should enjoy support of all major political associations and ethnic and confessional groups. We support the commitment to stabilization in Iraq, including maintenance of security and legal order.
In this regard, we note with concern the remaining high level of terrorist threat. Despite Iraq’s success on the counter-terrorist front, security situation is still fragile, i.a. due to growing activity of the terrorist underground. We are convinced that we can effectively oppose this challenge only through maximum broad coordination of counter-terrorist efforts. In this context, we commend the activity of Baghdad-based four-lateral Information Center, where the military of Russia, Iraq, Iran and Syria take part. We believe this mechanism does the important work coordinating counter-terrorism steps in Iraq and Syria. We will keep supporting Iraq in capacity-building of its law enforcement bodies, first of all by promoting bilateral military and technical cooperation.
However we assume that all those involved in combating terrorism in Iraq must respect sovereignty of the Iraqi state and coordinate their steps with Baghdad. We remind that any illegitimate military presence in Iraq is unacceptable. Foreign military formations can only be deployed upon consent of the local authorities or a corresponding decision of the UN Security Council.
We note progress with recovery of trust and settlement of existing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil. Further improvement of their relations will help Iraq strengthen its security, whereas resolution of ethnical and confessional problems will make it possible to engage the economic potential effectively for the benefit of the entire Iraqi nation.
In conclusion, Iraq must not be an arena for regional confrontation. On our part, we highly appreciate Baghdad’s commitment to building good neighborly relations, as well as the diplomatic potential for regional de-escalation, i.a. on the basis of UNSC resolution 598 and Russian collective security concept.
Thank you.
