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UN mission in Iraq extended for one year

10 August 2006 – The Security Council today extended the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for one year, responding to a request from the country’s Government, which said the world body has a “vital role” in fostering peace and prosperity there.

By a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council reaffirmed that “the United Nations should play a leading role in assisting the efforts of the Iraqi people and Government in strengthening institutions for representative government, and in promoting national dialogue and unity.”

In a recent letter to the President of the Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan highlighted UNAMI’s successful efforts to facilitate the country’s political transition in the past year, particularly with regard to the holding of two national elections and the adoption of a new Constitution.

He noted, however, that Iraq “continued to face formidable political, security and economic challenges” and still needed support from the international community. Insurgent, militia and terrorist attacks had continued unabated in many places, and sectarian violence posed an increasing threat to the Iraqi people.

The Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, wrote to the Secretary-General earlier this month to request UNAMI’s extension for one year. He noted that while the political transition has formally come to an end, “there remains much work for Iraqis to do to continue to build democratic legal and political institutions, to reintroduce the rule of law and civil society, to engage in a national dialogue to build peace and security and to rebuild Iraq’s shattered physical and economic infrastructure for the benefit of this and future generations of Iraqis.”

UNAMI, he said continues to have a “vital role” in working with Iraq to build a productive and prosperous country at peace with itself and its neighbours.

Set up by the Security Council in August, 2003, UNAMI is headed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ashraf Qazi, who formerly served as a career diplomat for his native Pakistan.