What's In Blue

Posted Mon 5 Dec 2011

Briefing and Consultations on Iraq

On Tuesday (6 December), the Council is expecting a briefing from Martin Kobler, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), followed by consultations. This is the first time the Council will receive a briefing from Kobler, who assumed his duties in Baghdad on 8 October, succeeding Ad Melkert.

The latest report of the Secretary-General on UNAMI, published on 28 November, is the first report since resolution 2001 asked the Secretary-General to report to the Council every four months on the progress made towards fulfilling UNAMI’s responsibilities.) Kobler’s briefing is expected to highlight the recent political and regional developments in Iraq contained in the report. In addition, Council members are likely to want more information on the security situation in Iraq as well as the social unrest over the last few months.

Another area that could be brought up for discussion is Iraq’s progress towards ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in accordance with resolution 1957 adopted on 15 December 2010. (Resolution 1957 requested the Secretary-General to report to the Council by December 2011 on progress made by Iraq on its commitment to ratify the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and meet its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.)

While no outcome is expected from tomorrow’s meeting, some Council members might be interested in discussing ways of assessing progress on issues in Iraq more closely in 2012. Members are also likely to be conscious that the planned withdrawal of US military forces by the end of the 2011 may have an impact on UNAMI’s security and could require changes to the mission’s composition.

Sign up for What's In Blue emails

Subscribe to receive SCR publications