Helping resolving the cases of missing Kuwaitis

Security Council confident Iraq will help resolve cases of missing Kuwaitis

19 April 2005 – The United Nations Security Council today voiced confidence that the new Iraqi Government would help resolve the cases of hundreds of murdered Kuwaiti prisoners of war and third-country nationals who disappeared after the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein occupied its small neighbour over 14 years ago.

Out of a total of 605 cases, the fate of some 270 is still unknown while only 222 of those whose remains that have been returned have so far been identified, according to the latest report on people and property missing from the occupation, which Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent to the Council last week.

"Council members shared the views expressed by the Secretary-General in his report and strongly condemned the execution of Kuwaiti and third-country nationals by the previous Iraqi regime, in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law," the 15-member body said in a press statement after receiving a briefing from Mr. Annan's High-Level Coordinator on the issue, Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov.

"The Security Council members agreed that those responsible for these horrendous crimes should be brought to justice," they added in the statement, read out by the Council President for April, Ambassador Wang Guangya of China.

They welcomed the actions of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to publish in the media the names and photographs of missing persons whose remains had not yet been found, with a request that any relevant information be reported to the competent Iraqi authorities.

"Council members are confident that the new Iraqi Government will continue this constructive engagement and call on all parties concerned to continue to work towards a satisfactory solution to all of the outstanding humanitarian and property aspects covered by Ambassador Vorontsov's mandate," they added.

ENDS

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