Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah publicized an official statement today, reacting to the UN Security Council resolutions 2013/2107, dated 27/6/2013, regarding conclusion of the mission of the international coordinator and tasking UNAMI with following up on these issues. The State of Kuwait welcomes these resolutions, that were issued as a result of unanimity among council member states, stipulating submission of the file of the prisoners and missing Kuwaitis, repatriation of the Kuwaiti properties to UNAMI, under Chapter VI instead of Chapter VII of the UN charter, with aim of following up on this file and presenting regular reports to the council to make the members acquainted with developments, pending a final settlement.
Moreover, Kuwait expresses appreciation for the significant role of the council, its close follow-up for years to ensure implementation of all obligations, stipulated by the council resolutions related to the state between Kuwait and Iraq, as well as continuous efforts of the UN Secretary General in this respect, the foreign minister stated. The Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Arabi welcomed Saturday the United Nations Security Council’s resolution No 2107 on ending Iraq’s Chapter VII status. In a press statement, Al-Arabi congratulated Iraqi and Kuwaiti people on the resolution which was the result of constructive and fruitful cooperation between the two nations.
He applauded the move which, as he expected, would have great positive impacts on Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations as well as on Iraq’s restoration of its normal relations and status in the regional and international arenas. Al-Arabi noted that dialogue between the Kuwait and Iraqi governments has helped reach agreements and understandings over the outstanding obligations under the relevant Chapter VII. On June 27, The UN Security Council voted unanimously to get Iraq partially out of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, transfer the files of the missing Kuwaitis and property under the responsibility of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and put an end to the 1999 post of the High-Level Coordinator for those files.
The Council transferred those two humanitarian issues, under Chapter VI, to UNAMI’s attention, taking into consideration the Kuwaiti conditions aimed at having the files constantly under Council review. The resolution 2107, called on Baghdad, in furtherance of its commitment to facilitate the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains still unaccounted for, to continue cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by providing any information about them. It also urged Baghdad to continue efforts to search for missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, through its inter-ministerial committee.
