Iraq
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The mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) will expire on 10 August. The Council is expected to renew the mandate for 12 months without change. In June 2004, resolution 1546 established both the mandate for the UN in Iraq and also authorised the presence of the Multinational Force (MNF-I).
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After more than 7 years of activities, the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) was officially closed down on 29 February 2008 following the Council decision in June 2007 to terminate its mandate.
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In early June, the next report is due from the Secretary-General on Iraq’s compliance with resolution 1284 on the repatriation of Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains, and the return of property following the first Gulf War. The Council will likely hold consultations and hear a briefing by the new High-level Coordinator Gennady Tarasov of Russia.
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The Council is expected to review in June the mandates of the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I), the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB, the audit oversight body for the DFI).
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The Iraq oil-for-food programme came to an end on 31 December 2007. However, many issues concerning letters of credit remain outstanding and the Council continues to receive progress reports from the Secretary-General on the processing of those issues. The next progress report is expected in May.
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In April the Council is expecting a report on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, is likely to brief the Council in a public session. The US is also likely to brief the Council on the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I).
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The Security Council is expecting a briefing on Iraq, perhaps from the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, Staffan de Mistura. The next report on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) is due by 15 January. The US is also expected to brief the Council on the activities of the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I).
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At time of writing the Security Council is discussing a letter from Iraq seeking renewal of the mandate of the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I), but only for one year.
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The Iraq oil-for-food programme will finally be terminated on 31 December, according to resolution 1483. No further Council action is required. However, the Council will receive recommendations from the Secretary-General on mechanisms to deal with residual issues. The Council is likely to respond to the proposals in a letter.
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On 11 December the Council will likely be briefed by Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Coordinator for Iraq’s compliance with obligations on Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and return of property. The next report under resolution 1284, which requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on Iraq’s compliance, is due by 5 December. A press statement is expected.
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The mandate of the Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq expires on 31 December. However, the Council is likely to bring forward the renewal of the MNF mandate and act on this in November. At the time of writing it is unclear when the Iraqi government request for the renewal of the MNF mandate will be received.
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The Council is scheduled to hold a public debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and on the Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq on 19 October. It is anticipated that Lynn Pascoe, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, will brief the Council on the latest UNAMI report.
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A report by the Secretary-General on the archives and other property of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) is due by 29 September. Following the apparent false alarm on potentially hazardous UNMOVIC chemical material within UN premises in August, the Council is expected to give serious attention to the report in early October. Action by way of a letter to the Secretary-General seems likely.
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The mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) will expire on 10 August. The Council is expected to extend it for twelve months. Resolution 1546 in June 2004 established the mandate of the UN in Iraq and authorised the presence of the Multinational Force (MNF). Resolution 1723 in November 2006 extended the MNF authorisation and, in a preambular paragraph, updated the UNAMI mandate.
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In November 2003 the Iraq "oil-for-food" programme was terminated. Since then, the Council has been overseeing completion of the programme's remaining activities.
