"Public Report" - Wed. PM KTFA Thoughts/News 5/30/18

by **Ssmith** on Thu May 31, 2018 9:02 am

KTFA

Realtormc » May 30th, 2018

OK, so this is the public report from the UN today. They also have private meetings......dun...dun...dun.......

https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/briefing-security-council-srsg-iraq-j-n-kubi-new-york-30-may-2018-prepared-enar

Briefing to the Security Council by SRSG for Iraq Ján Kubiš, New York, 30 May 2018 (As Prepared) [EN/AR]

REPORT from UN Assistance Mission for Iraq

Published on 30 May 2018

Madame President,

Allow me to now turn to the eighteenth report of the Secretary-General on the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defence continues to undertake proactive efforts in carrying out excavation and exploration missions, as well as in collecting information to complement the search for missing Kuwaiti persons. Commitment for action persists, but the need to adopt fresh and innovative ways to take the file forward is evident from the lack of tangible results.

In April, for the second time in 15 years, Iraq hosted meetings of the Tripartite mechanism, demonstrating its commitment to the missing persons file and a steady return to normality. The discussions held among the Tripartite members were constructive and forward-looking. Focusing primarily on the recommendations of the ICRC review project, agreements were reached on how best to reinvigorate the search.

I am grateful for the positive response received towards the proposals tabled by UNAMI during these meetings, namely a pilot project to conduct mass grave site surveys in Iraq with the help of the UN Global Service Centre in Brindisi.

In line with the multifaceted approach advocated by the ICRC review project, the pilot project would also encompass training and capacity-building of the technical teams on the use of Ground Penetrating Radar and data analysis. I hope that the outcomes and agreements stemming from the latest Tripartite mechanism meetings will translate into positive outcomes.

While the Government of Iraq bears primary responsibility for this work, I would like to use this occasion to call upon the international community to consider how it might further support these activities. More particularly, I draw attention to the need for Member States in possession of relevant satellite imagery from 1990-1991 to come forward and provide analysis and information to the Government of Iraq that could assist in identification of burial locations. Procurement of field equipment, as well as provision of forensic, DNA, and anthropological trainings and capacity-building for Iraqi and Kuwaiti technical teams are equally important in moving this file forward.

It is paramount that despite challenges and the accumulated frustration from lack of results, we do not lose sight of the ultimate goal, which is to provide the families of the missing with answers about the fate of their loved ones.

Madam President,

The missing Kuwaiti property file has unfortunately not registered any progress during this period. UNAMI has been meeting with the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss how best we can support and facilitate the repatriation of already located Kuwaiti property, which has been pending for over a year. I would like to reiterate the call to both Iraq and Kuwait to reach an agreement on the date of the official handover. UNAMI stands ready to provide logistical support and observe the process.

In conclusion, I urge the Government of Iraq to explore new strategies to revive this file and fulfil its obligations, under this file.

Greenclan » May 30th, 2018

WELL.........we were told here that this file was done.....2017. Hmmmmm

Boxman » May 30th, 2018

I seem to remember we were told this file would never be fully closed, since it involved the return of Kuwaiti archives and bodies of members of the royal family and Kuwaiti citizens ( many of which may have been vaporized by bombings or fires) but that Kuwait accepted that Iraq would continue to search for the files and remains...the UN meeting today said they would return what they have recently unearthed...I do not expect they will ever to able to return items, since most no longer exist or question members of the Iraqi Republic guard who committed most of the criminal acts, since they were destroyed on the road of death leading back to Iraq...IMHO

Ty1 » May 30th, 2018

Team my understanding was the missing person's report was a condition of coming out of Ch. 7 in June 2013. They said in good faith they would continue to look for these poor souls and I think all that was stated today was there has not been much progress.

There is nothing in a bad way that they can hold over them IMO...