04 August 2005
U.N. Security Council Unanimously Condemns Terrorism in Iraq
Bolton says resolution highlights importance of cooperating to fight terrorism
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously August 4 to condemn the recent wave of "horrific" terrorist attacks in Iraq, and urged all 191 U.N. members to reject terrorism and to help bring terrorists to justice.
"Acts of terrorism must not be allowed to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition currently taking place, including the constitutional drafting process and its referendum," the 15-member council said.
Ambassador John R. Bolton, in his first address to the Security Council on behalf of the United States, said the resolution is important because it shows that Iraq faces the same terrorist threats endangering other parts of the world.
"This resolution highlights the critical importance of cooperation among all member states to halt the flow of terrorists, weapons, and terrorist financing to Iraq," Bolton said. "We call upon the governments of Syria and Iran to honor their commitments to assist Iraq under this resolution and other relevant resolutions ... and to implement the pledges they have made to support stability in Iraq....
"We call on all Iraqis to reject violence and support a transparent, participatory and inclusive transition process."
The Security Council resolution, UNSCR 1618, also urges countries to prevent the trafficking in arms and the financing that supported terrorists, and it emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries in the region.
The Security Council called "shameless and horrific" the attacks of recent weeks that have killed more than 100 people. The attacks have killed 32 children, Independent Electoral Commission workers, constitutional experts, diplomats and other Iraqi and foreign civilians.
The council also expressed significant concern for the increasing number of foreign diplomats attacked, kidnapped and murdered. It called on Iraq to provide the necessary protection for the diplomatic community, U.N. staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in the country.
Bolton said the constructive dialogue through which this resolution was developed "demonstrates further the strengthened resolve of the United Nations to work together for a democratic, secure, and prosperous Iraq, and for the lasting and permanent benefit -- and safety -- of its people."
"Finally, we urge all U.N. Member States, especially in the Arab world, to come forward and support the Iraqi people at this critical point in their development of constitutional structures of representative government," he said.
The U.S. ambassador said that the Iraqi people continue to demonstrate the courage that has been seen throughout the transition process, and especially when millions of Iraqis participated in the country's first democratic national election.
"Undeterred by Saddam Hussein's legacy of many years of oppression and war, the Iraqi people are determined to create a new reality," Bolton said. "Iraqis continue to work toward a new constitution and new elections despite ongoing terrorist attacks and threats of attacks."
The final resolution was co-sponsored by Britain, Romania and the United States. See related article, U.S. Hails United Nations Antiterrorist Resolution.
Following is the text of Bolton's remarks:
(begin text)
United Nations
New York City
August 4, 2005
Statement by Ambassador John Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Security Council Resolution 1618 Condemning Terrorism in Iraq, August 4, 2005
Thank you Mr. President,
I am very pleased that my first participation in the Security Council comes on the day that the Council has unanimously passed this Resolution condemning terrorism in Iraq, vividly demonstrating broad international support for the Iraqi government. This support is extremely important as Iraq continues forward with its political, security, and economic transition.
Today is notably only days after the 15-year anniversary of Saddam Hussein's unprovoked aggression against Kuwait, and the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 660 and 661. Over this 15-year period, the Council has been seized with Iraq. For most of that time, the effort was to compel positive behavior from the government of Iraq. Today, however, the Council is in partnership with the new, democratically elected government of that country.
On a personal note, I was the assistant secretary of state for international organizations in August of 1990, and I have long been invested with ensuring the development of a peaceful, democratic Iraq. We are nearing the resolution of that process, and the next months will be critical.
Iraq is quickly approaching another major milestone in its transition, that of having a draft constitution in place by August 15. In anticipation of doing so, the Iraqi government has expressed its commitment to meeting the October 15 referendum and December 15 election timelines, as outlined in the Transitional Administrative Law and endorsed by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546. It is important that this be a transparent, participatory, and inclusive process.
The Iraqi people continue to demonstrate the courage that we have seen throughout the transition process, most notably on January 30 when millions of Iraqis participated in Iraq's first democratic national election. Undeterred by Saddam Hussein's legacy of many years of oppression and war, the Iraqi people are determined to create a new reality. Iraqis continue to work toward a new constitution and new elections despite ongoing terrorist attacks and threats of attacks.
This resolution is also important because it illustrates that Iraq faces the same transnational terrorist threat that has struck many other parts of the world.
This resolution highlights the critical importance of cooperation among all Member States to halt the flow of terrorists, weapons, and terrorist financing to Iraq. We call upon the governments of Syria and Iran to honor their commitments to assist Iraq under this resolution and other relevant resolutions, including U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546, and to implement the pledges they have made to support stability in Iraq at the conference of Iraq's neighbors.
We call on all Iraqis to reject violence and support a transparent, participatory and inclusive transition process.
The constructive dialogue through which this text was developed demonstrates further the strengthened resolve of the United Nations to work together for a democratic, secure, and prosperous Iraq, and for the lasting and permanent benefit -- and safety -- of its people.
Finally, we urge all U.N. Member States, especially in the Arab world, to come forward and support the Iraqi people at this critical point in their development of constitutional structures of representative government.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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