STATEMENT

by H.E. Ambassador Bui The Giang,

Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam,

at the Security Council’s Debate on  “The situation concerning Iraq”

New York, 18 June 2009

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Mr. President,

I wish to join others in welcoming H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, again to the Council and thanking him for personally chairing today’s meeting. I thank SRSG Staffan de Mistura for his updated briefing on the situation in Iraq and the work of UNAMI, and congratulate him on his leadership of the Mission over a very challenging period in the Mission’s operations. I wish him every success in his new position. I also thank Ambassador Al Bayati of Iraq for his contribution to our discussions today.

Mr. President,

For the past six months, we have seen a consistent positive trend in the overall political and security situation in Iraq. Serious efforts have been made to form Provincial Councils in 14 governorates and strengthen local governance institutions following the successful provincial elections earlier this year. A new Speaker of Parliament was elected, putting an end to a four-month hiatus and opening up prospects of progress on the pending legislation needed for the country’s recovery. The strengthened ability of Iraqi Security Forces to assume greater security responsibilities lays further ground for security improvements within Iraq’s sovereignty. That IDPs’ return remains at a steady rate in spite of the rise of violence represents the population’s restored confidence. High-level visits to and from Iraq have enhanced the country’s international relations, first of all with neighboring partners.

We are, however, mindful of the multiple challenges that Iraq is facing. They include inter alia the recent surge of indiscriminate attacks against civilians alongside regular attacks against the Iraqi Security Forces and MNF-I in many parts of the country, the delicate reconciliation process further complicated by the difficult economic situation with a budget deficit projected at 27% this year, the worrisome rates of poverty and unemployment, the oubreaks of diseases and food insecurity, all of which are making the livelihood of fragile groups of the population such as women, children, IDPs and refugees even more vulnerable. In this context, it is crucial for the Government of Iraq and its citizens to strengthen the progress recorded so far and move ahead in the course of national reconciliation, reconstruction and reintegration, resolve the status of Kirkuk and other disputed internal administrative boundaries, push forward the constitutional review process, reach an accord on income-sharing arrangements, and prepare for the elections in Kirkuk, the possible referenda, district and sub-district elections, and the national parliamentary elections this year, and other key electoral events next year. All these issues cannot be dealt with in isolation and will require goodwill and firm commitment from all concerned stakeholders. We call upon all parties in Iraq to rise above their partisan interests, work with one another in the spirit of reconciliation, good faith and cooperation with a view to compromise solutions that would allow the country to march ahead under a common vision and along the track of peace. 

Mr. President,

Given the fact that the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq is coming to a close by the end of this year, the International Compact for Iraq approaches its third year of implementation and international financing for reconstruction and development diminishes, we share the imperative stated by the Paris Declaration to ensure ownership, accountability and transparency of aid. We believe that international and regional assistance should be better coordinated to help Iraq address its national socio-economic priorities, and that this should be done through every related mechanism, be it the International Compact for Iraq, the UN Development Group Iraq Trust Fund, the Paris Declaration principles, the expanded ministerial meetings, or the regional working groups on energy, refugees and security.

Mr. President,

We commend the courageous work of UNAMI in Iraq as mandated by Security Council Resolutions 1770 (2007) and 1830 (2008). We welcome the decision by UN agencies, funds and programs to start with a full UN Development Assistance Framework for Iraq from 2011 to 2014, in line with Iraq’s National Development Strategy. We also welcome the Secretary-General’s announcement to soon present to the Security Council a report on the review of all Security Council resolutions pertaining specifically to Iraq, in accordance with Resolution 1859 (2008). As Iraq is in the mid of the critical transition period, we reiterate Viet Nam’s commitment to contributing practically to the reconstruction of Iraq.

Finally, we thank the Delegation of Turkey for proposing a draft PRST, which we are ready to support.

I thank you, Mr. President.