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United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) UNAMI FOCUS Voice of the Mission News Bulletin on UNAMI Activities Special Edition 1 April 2007 SG Ban Ki-moon visits I thank you all for attending this meeting and for your commitment to the Baghdad International Compact with Iraq. During his visit to Baghdad, United Nations The preparatory process for the Compact Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with has been under way in Baghdad since July Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and 2006. This process, which included two other Senior Iraqi leaders. Mr. Ki-moon high-level meetings in Kuwait and Abu described his meetings as important and Dhabi, has brought together the fruitful. He discussed with Mr. Al Maliki the Government of Iraq and the international latest developments in Iraq and explored with community in an effort to develop a him the different ways the United Nations mechanism that would help Iraq to realize can become more effective in conducting its SG Ban Ki-moon and SRSG Ashraf Qazi, its national vision. duties and obligations in Iraq. Baghdad on 22 Marc 2007 As you know, a small support group was The United Nations Secretary-General said established to support the preparatory that his visit to Baghdad as the first stop of He earlier visited the headquarters of the process. But it has always been his regional tour emphasizes Iraq’s place on United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq ourintention – and that of the Government the United Nations list of priorities. He noted (UNAMI) where he spoke with UN staff of Iraq – to expand the group in due that although the United Nations has been members, both international and national. He course. Today's meeting offers an extensively engaged with Iraq on a variety of also laid a wreath at the monument for UN opportunity to bring the larger critical issues for many years, today’s visit envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello who, along international community together to reaffirms the position of the UN, Iraq and the with 21 others, was killed in the terrorist consider how best to support the people of International Commun ity on the need for bombing of UN headquarters in Iraq on 19 Iraq under the Compact. more active engagement for the UN in Iraq. August 2003. I am pleased that His Excellency, Mr. Adel During his meetings with Mr. Al-Maliki and The one-day trip to Baghdad is the first to Abdul Mahdi, Vice- President of Iraq, is other Senior Iraqi leaders SG Ban Ki-moon Iraq by a UN Secretary-General since Mr. here today to inform us about the latest stressed the need for an all-inclusive political Ban’s predecessor Kofi Annan visited the developments in Iraq and, in particular, and reconciliation process to bring down the strife-torn capital in November 2005. about the progress that has been made in level of violence, sectarian tensions and the preparatory process for the Compact. improve security and the human rights situation in Iraq. SG Ban Ki-Moon opening remarks to meeting on the He also noted that the United Nations is co- International Compact with INDEX: chairing the International compact for Iraq Iraq (ICI) (ICI) with the Government of Iraq. He said, - SG visit to Baghdad 1 “I co-chaired with Iraqi Vice President Adel Some 100 delegations from Member States, -SG speech-ICI 1 Abdul Mahdi the ICI meeting, which was held Friday on 16 March at New York humanitarian agencies and regional -SRSG statement-SC 2 Headquarters.” He added that the United organizations gathered at United Nations -SRSG Activities 3 Nations was encouraged that more than 30 Headquarters in New York on 16 March -Political Update 3 different delegations representing the 2007 to attend a meeting on the International - Constitutional Support Newsflash 3 Compact with Iraq (ICI). The Compact which Member States and international institutions - Human Rights News 4 expressed unreserved support for the is co-chaired by the Iraqi Government and - Electoral Update 4 Compact, and noted the meeting set the end United Nations is a long-term initiative for of April as a possible time to launch the ICI. Iraq that aims to consolidate peace and - Relief, Reconstruction & Development pursue political, economic and social Activities 4 development over the next five years. SG Ban Ki-Moon assured the Iraqi people - Brief from PIO 4 that the United Nations’ commitment to Iraq - photos-SG visit 5 and the people of Iraq is unwavering and long Following is the opening remarks by SG Ban term. Ki-moon before the meeting : 1 We are all aware of the difficult situation in Above all, it is essential that all Iraqi To re-establish an acceptable level of security Iraq. It is heart-wrenching to see almost daily communities come together in a spirit of in Baghdad and the wider Iraq, there must be attacks on innocent civilians, which have left dialogue to find lasting solutions. As they do simultaneous progress on the political front,” immense suffering and pain in their wake. so, they should be able to count on the active Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General’s Special Beyond the political violence and sectarian support of Iraq's neighbours and the Representative for that country said in an strife, a humanitarian crisis is stretching the international community. The Compact is an open briefing that was also addressed by Adil patience and ability of ordinary people to important framework for fulfilling precisely Abdal Mahdi, the Vice-President of Iraq. cope with everyday life. The United Nations those shared responsibilities towards Iraq and is now strengthening its humanitarian efforts, its people. He said the Government of Iraq must take all and working with Iraq's neighbours and other necessary measures to ensure that all its countries in the region, to address the The United Nations is committed to citizens perceived its actions to be on their increasing needs of those who have left Iraq supporting the implementation of the behalf and in their interest. Only then would temporarily, those displaced inside the Compact. Through my good offices, and security operations help bring the Iraqi country and those suffering from diminishing those of my Special Representative in Iraq, people together. Previous plans, initiatives access to basic public services. Mr. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the United Nations and statements had not resulted in tangible will make every effort to ensure that the and sustained improvements for the long- Given these circumstances, some may international community remains engaged in suffering citizens, and conditions must be question why a Compact would be necessary this process. created for the emergence of an inclusive and or appropriate. I understand these concerns. participatory political process. However, a framework for normalization is I have appointed Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who required now more than ever. is well known to you all, as my Special Describing the ever-present menace of Advisor on the International Compact with political, sectarian and criminal violence that I am also aware of the view that there is a Iraq and Other Political Issues, to succeed “reflected the grim reality of life in Iraq”, he multitude of initiatives on Iraq which have Mr. Mark Malloch Brown as Co-Chair of the warned of the danger that would be posed by yet to yield tangible results. Certainly, there Compact. He will be in active contact with all any additional conflicts in the already volatile is a need to streamline and consolidate these concerned to move this process forward and Middle East. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- initiatives, and to concentrate on achievable to ensure its success. Maliki had called on regional and goals. But unlike the other initiatives, the international Powers not to use the country as Compact focuses on Iraq's long-term The challenges ahead are immense. I am sure a venue to wage their conflicts, and the economic development, while also stressing you will all agree that we cannot leave Iraq United Nations was determined to encourage progress in the political and security fields, on its own to cope with them. The neighbouring States to develop a sustained through a mutually re-enforcing relationship. and constructive dialogue to minimize the International Compact is intended to help the Government to build a secure, unified, prospect of Iraq’s tragedy being exacerbated The Compact aims to achieve its objectives federal and democratic nation, founded on by the wider problems of the region. in two ways: First, a “national compact” the principles of freedom and equality, among Iraqis on the necessary security and capable of providing peace and prosperity for United States Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, political steps would be agreed upon. These all its people. reporting on behalf of the Multinational steps are prerequisites for the normalization Force-Iraq, said that, despite the sobering of the situation in Iraq and for the A positive political progress and a reduction scale of violent attacks, the Iraqi Government revitalization of the economy. Second, an of violence are essential preconditions for the and people continued to pursue their political “international compact” between Iraq and its and economic development and security success of this initiative. I call on the parties partners would set out the Government of to work towards this goal. And to maintain goals. Towards that end, the Council of Iraq's agenda for the next five years with the momentum generated by this meeting Representatives had passed a law in January regard to economic and social reform. This itself, I encourage the Government of Iraq to that established an Independent Higher shared vision and mutual commitment would Election Commission –- a key step in agree on the date and venue for the launch of allow the international community to channel the International Compact.