Cablegate: Security Council Unanimously Approves Mnf-I

VZCZCXRO1228
OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUCNDT #2215/01 3391510
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051510Z DEC 06 ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0867
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DOD WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 002215

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IZ UNSC
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES MNF-I
ROLLOVER

USUN NEW Y 00002215 001.2 OF 003

1. (U) On November 28, the UN Security Council unanimously
adopted Resolution 1723, extending for twelve months the
mandate of the Multinational Forces in Iraq (MNF-I), the
Development Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and
Monitoring Board. The text of UNSCR 1734 is at para 2,
Ambassador Bolton,s intervention is at para 3 and highlights
of other interventions are at para 4.

2. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF RESOLUTION 1723

PP1. The Security Council,

PP2. Welcoming the formation of a national unity government
in Iraq with a detailed political, economic and security
program and a strong national reconciliation agenda and
looking forward to the day Iraqi forces assume full
responsibility for the maintenance of security and stability
in their country, thus allowing the completion of the
multinational force mandate and the end of its presence in
Iraq,

PP3. Welcoming the progress made to date in the training
and equipping of Iraqi security forces as well as in the
transfer of security responsibilities to those forces in
Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces and looking forward to the
continuation of that process during 2007,

PP4. Recalling all of its previous relevant resolutions on
Iraq,

PP5. Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity, and
territorial integrity of Iraq,

PP6. Reaffirming also the right of the Iraqi people freely
to determine their own political future and control their own
natural resources,

PP7. Welcoming the continuing work of the Government of
Iraq towards a federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified
Iraq, in which there is full respect for human rights,

PP8. Welcoming the vital role played by the Government of
Iraq in continuing to promote national dialogue and
reconciliation in pursuit of an atmosphere in which
sectarianism is totally rejected, including the National
Reconciliation Plan announced by Iraqi Prime Minister
al-Maliki, stressing the importance of the rapid
implementation of the plan, and reaffirming the willingness
of the international community to work closely with the
Government of Iraq to assist these reconciliation efforts,

PP9. Recognizing the International Compact with Iraq, an
initiative of the Government of Iraq to create a new
partnership with the international community and to build a
strong framework for Iraq's continued political, security and
economic transformation and integration into the regional and
global economy, and welcoming the important role that the
United Nations is playing by jointly chairing the Compact
with the Government of Iraq,

PP10. Calling upon the international community, particularly
countries in the region and Iraq's neighbors, to support the
Iraqi people in their pursuit of peace, stability, security,
democracy, and prosperity, and noting that the successful
implementation of this resolution will contribute to regional
stability,

PP11. Demanding those who use violence in an attempt to
subvert the political process should lay down their arms and
participate in the political process, and encouraging the
Government of Iraq to continue to engage with all those who
renounce violence,

PP12. Reaffirming that acts of terrorism must not be allowed
to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition, and
further reaffirming the obligations of Member States under
resolution 1618 (2005) of 4 August 2005 and other relevant
resolutions and international conventions with respect, inter
alia, to terrorist activities in and from Iraq or against its
citizens,

PP13. Recognizing the request conveyed in the letter of 11
November 2006 from the Prime Minister of Iraq to the
President of the Council, which is annexed to this
resolution, to retain the presence of the multinational force
in Iraq, and affirming the common goals therein: Iraqi
assumption of recruiting, training, equipping, and arming of
the Iraqi Security Forces; Iraqi assumption of command and
control over Iraqi forces; and the transfer of responsibility
for security to the Government of Iraq,

USUN NEW Y 00002215 002.2 OF 003

PP14. Recognizing the importance of consent of the sovereign
Government of Iraq for the presence of the multinational
force and of close coordination and partnership between the
multinational force and that government,

PP15. Welcoming the willingness of the multinational force
to continue efforts to contribute to the maintenance of
security and stability in Iraq, including participating in
the provision of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance,
as described in the letter of 17 November 2006 from the
United States Secretary of State to the President of the
Council, which is annexed to this resolution,

PP16. Recognizing the tasks and arrangements set out in
letters annexed to resolution 1546 (2004) of 8 June 2004 and
the cooperative implementation by the Government of Iraq and
the multinational force of those arrangements,

PP17. Affirming the importance for all forces promoting the
maintenance of security and stability in Iraq to act in
accordance with international law, including obligations
under international humanitarian law, and to cooperate with
the relevant international organizations, and welcoming their
commitments in this regard,

PP18. Recalling the establishment of the United Nations
Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 14 August 2003, and
affirming that the United Nations should continue to play a
leading role in assisting the Iraqi people and government
with further political and economic development, including
advising and supporting the Government of Iraq, providing
strong support in developing the International Compact with
Iraq, contributing to coordination and delivery of
reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance, and
promoting the protection of human rights, national
reconciliation, as well as judicial and legal reform in order
to strengthen the rule of law in Iraq,

PP19. Recognizing that international support for security
and stability is essential to the well-being of the people of
Iraq as well as the ability of all concerned, including the
United Nations, to carry out their work on behalf of the
people of Iraq, and expressing appreciation for Member State
contributions in this regard under resolution 1483 (2003),
resolution 1511 (2003), resolution 1546 (2004) and resolution
1637 (2005),

PP20. Recognizing that the Government of Iraq will continue
to have the primary role in coordinating international
assistance to Iraq and reaffirming the importance of
international assistance and development of the Iraqi economy
and the importance of coordinated donor assistance,

PP21. Recognizing the significant role of the Development
Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and Monitoring
Board in helping the Government of Iraq to ensure that Iraq's
resources are being used transparently and equitably for the
benefit of the people of Iraq,

PP22. Stressing the responsibility of the Iraqi authorities
to undertake all appropriate steps to prevent attacks on the
diplomatic personnel accredited in Iraq in accordance with
the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961,

PP23. Determining that the situation in Iraq continues to
constitute a threat to international peace and security,

PP24. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United
Nations,

OP1. Notes that the presence of the multinational force in
Iraq is at the request of the Government of Iraq and
reaffirms the authorization for the multinational force as
set forth in resolution 1546 (2004) and decides to extend the
mandate of the multinational force as set forth in that
resolution until 31 December 2007, taking into consideration
the Iraqi Prime Minister's letter dated 11 November 2006 and
the United States Secretary of State's letter dated 17
November 2006;

OP2. Decides further that the mandate for the multinational
force shall be reviewed at the request of the Government of
Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007, and declares that it will
terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the Government
of Iraq;

OP3. Decides to extend until 31 December 2007 the
arrangements established in paragraph 20 of resolution 1483
(2003) for the depositing into the Development Fund for Iraq

USUN NEW Y 00002215 003.2 OF 003

of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum
products, and natural gas and the arrangements referred to in
paragraph 12 of resolution 1483 (2003) and paragraph 24 of
resolution 1546 (2004) for the monitoring of the Development
Fund for Iraq by the International Advisory and Monitoring
Board;

OP4. Decides further that the provisions in the above
paragraph for the deposit of proceeds into the Development
Fund for Iraq and for the role of the International Advisory
and Monitoring Board shall be reviewed at the request of the
Government of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007;

OP5. Requests that the Secretary-General continue to report
to the Council on UNAMI operations in Iraq on a quarterly
basis;

OP6. Requests that the United States, on behalf of the
multinational force, continue to report to the Council on the
efforts and progress of this force on a quarterly basis;

OP7. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

3. (U) Begin text of the Explanation of Vote.

The United States notes the request of the Iraqi government
for the continuing support of the Multinational Force in Iraq
in helping it face the current security challenges and
welcomes the Security Council's speedy adoption of this
resolution to extend for an additional 12 months the mandate
set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, as well as
the arrangements for the Development Fund for Iraq and the
International Advisory and Monitoring Board. The MNF-I
continues to play a vital role in the security and stability
of Iraq. It is also working in close partnership with the
Iraqi government toward the development of Iraq's ability to
assume responsibility for the country's security. The United
States remains committed to a unified, democratic and
prosperous Iraq and looks forward to the continued
cooperation of the international community in support of
Iraq's future.

4. (U) Following Ambassador Bolton,s intervention at para 3,
UK PermRep Jones-Parry delivered the following statement:
"The resolution we have adopted today is a unanimous response
by the Security Council to a request from the Government of
Iraq. This resolution extends for 12 months the
Multinational Force mandate on the terms set out in
resolution 1546. As with resolution 1647, this resolution
comes with the important assurances that the Iraqi government
may, at any time, seek a review of the arrangements or the
termination of the MNF mandate. The United Kingdom will
continue working in close partnership with the Iraqi
government, both bilaterally and as a contributor to the
Multinational Force. We will continue to assist in the
progressive transfer of security responsibilities to the
Iraqi security forces as soon as possible. The Multinational
Force has already been able to hand over two provinces, Al
Muthanna and Dhi Qar, to Iraqi control during this summer.
Conditions permitting, we look forward to notable progress in
the next year." The Russian PermRep took the floor, and said
Russia supported the text, although it noted two basic
concerns. First, Russia emphasized the importance of
providing security for accredited diplomatic personnel.
Second, the UNSCR did not adequately reflect the importance
of the political process, especially recent meetings of
regional groups like the League of Arab States in Cairo in
2005 and Sharm-el Sheikh in 2004. The Russian PermRep
characterized the situation in Iraq as "complex" and called
for renewed efforts at national reconciliation. France was
the last to speak. The French Deputy PermRep said France
supported the technical rollover of the MNF-I mandate, and
expressed concern over the worsening security situation. He
said France supported a "clear horizon for withdrawal" and
was pleased that French concerns were taken into account in
the text. He reiterated Russia,s call for a focus on
political reconciliation, and said France supported the
Sharm-el Sheikh and Cairo meetings.
BOLTON

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