UN Security Council extends UN Mission in Iraq for another year

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, July 24, extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) until July 31, 2014. The resolution adopted unanimously by all 15 member states, including Russia, urged the Iraqi government to continue to provide security and logistical support to the Mission, and on Member States to continue to provide it with sufficient resources. The Security Council also stressed that that the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and UNAMI shall continue their mandate with regard to overseeing outstanding issues relating to Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The decision to extend the mandate was made amid an upsurge in violence and terrorist acts that have targeted mainly civilians and civilian infrastructure in Iraq, resulting in high civilian casualties at levels not seen since 2008, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on UNAMI, the U.N. said. “The scale of renewed violence in Iraq during the reporting period is alarming. I again urge political leaders from all sides to intensify their efforts to resolve the continuing political stalemate in accordance with the Constitution, through serious dialogue and with a spirit of compromise, so that no space is left to those who seek to exploit the situation through violence and terror,” Ban said in the report. “UNAMI stands ready to assist all parties in moving ahead towards national reconciliation,” the Secretary-General added. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is a political mission established by the 2003 UN Security Council Resolution 1500 at the request of the Government of Iraq. It has been on the ground ever since, with its role greatly expanded in 2007 with the passage of Resolution 1770. UNAMI is mandated to advise and assist the Government and people of Iraq on a number of fronts. This includes advancing inclusive, political dialogue and national reconciliation, assisting in the electoral process and in the planning for a national census, facilitating regional dialogue between Iraq and its neighbours, and promoting the protection of human rights and judicial and legal reform. UNAMI is headed by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq who is supported by two deputies. One deputy oversees the political and human rights affairs, while the other oversees the UN humanitarian and development efforts and performs the functions of Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq. The Mission is currently supporting efforts to promote dialogue to resolve Iraq’s disputed internal boundaries, including the future status of the northern city of Kirkuk, and also supporting Iraq’s Parliament, the Council of Representatives, on constitutional issues. It is also working to promote the establishment of a strong human rights protection system, improve the quality of life in areas such as health, education, water and sanitation, and to assist vulnerable populations including internally displaced persons, refugees, and returnees, the U.N. said.