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.