6 Dec 2011

UN / IRAQ

The new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Martin Kobler told the Security Council today that the withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq by the end of the year “will lead to remarkable change for the Government and the people of Iraq” and is an “important milestone in its history as the country as it rebuilds and strengthens its relations with regional and international partners.” UNTV

Posted at: December 6, 2011 4:28 pm

Duration: 02:44

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / IRAQ
TRT: 2.44
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 6 DECEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

6 DECEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Wide shot, Security Council 
3.	Med shot, delegates
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq:
"The withdrawal of the United States' forces in Iraq by the end of the year will lead to remarkable change for the Government and the people of Iraq. It is also an important milestone in its history as the country rebuilds and strengthens its relations with regional and international partners. Yes, there will be challenges ahead and many seem to be concerned by what the future might entail. However, it is above all an opportunity, an opportunity for all Iraqis to prove to themselves and to the world that they can build a peaceful and better future for their children."	
5.	Med shot, delegates 
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq:
"In my recent discussions with the Iraqi Government I have encouraged them to quickly implement Iraq's outstanding chapter 7 obligations as outlined in the Roadmap. This in turn would open the door for the early normalization of Iraq's status in the international community by the Security Council, which is now long overdue. Further efforts are therefore needed to promote confidence between the two countries and facilitate solutions to address outstanding bilateral issues. I am encouraged by the resolve that both Iraq and Kuwait have demonstrated to improving bilateral relations."
7.	Med shot, delegates 
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Hamid Al-Bayati, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations:
"Iraq is committed to solving all unresolved issues with our neighbour Kuwait. I would like to assure your esteemed Council that there is positive collaboration between the Iraqi and Kuwaiti Government to solve and settle all the unresolved issues between the two countries that were the result of Saddam Hussein's aggression on Kuwait and his invasion in 1990."
9.	Med shot, delegates
10.	Wide shot, Security Council 
11.	Pan left, Kobler walks to the stakeout position

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

12.	Close up, reporter's laptop

6 DECEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY

13.	SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq:
"We proposed a solution, which is a peaceful and durable solution; however we cannot do it within the remaining time. The Government of Iraq requested to close down the camp by 31st of December this year. In the Security Council I expressed this concern and requested to extend the deadline of 31st of December, to give us time, to give us space, in order to bring about a peaceful, humanitarian solution."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

14.	Close up, reporters' notepads

6 DECEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY

15.	Pan right, Kobler walks away from the stakeout position:

STORYLINE:

The United Nations (UN) envoy for Iraq today (6 December) said that the withdrawal of the United States' forces from Iraq by the end of the year "will lead to remarkable change for the Government and the people of Iraq" and will be "an important milestone in its history."

Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), acknowledged that "there will be challenges ahead" but said that above all it will be "an opportunity for all Iraqis to prove to themselves and to the world that they can build a peaceful and better future for their children."

Kobler addressed a number of issues including the internal political situation in the country and the role of the UN as well as Iraq's relations with Syria, Turkey and Kuwait.

He said that Iraq must quickly implement its outstanding obligations with regard to Kuwait, as "this in turn would open the door for the early normalization of Iraq's status in the international community by the Security Council, which is now long overdue."

He pointed out that he was "encouraged by the resolve that both Iraq and Kuwait have demonstrated to improving bilateral relations."

Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati of Iraq told the Council that his country is "committed to solving all unresolved issues with our neighbour Kuwait" and assured them that there is "positive collaboration between the Iraqi and Kuwaiti Government" on these issues, which "were the result of Saddam Hussein's aggression on Kuwait and his invasion in 1990."

Kobler also voiced concern over the situation in a camp housing several thousand Iranian exiles and urged the Iraqi Government to extend the deadline for closing down the settlement as efforts continue o find a peaceful solution that conforms with international law.

Outside the Council he told reporters that his office had proposed a "peaceful and durable solution" to the problem, but will need more time.

Situated in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, Camp Ashraf houses members of a group known as the People's Mojahedeen of Iran. The Iraqi Government has repeatedly stated its intention to close down the camp by 31 December and to transfer residents to another location until countries willing to accept them for resettlement are found. Residents want to remain in the camp until a resettlement solution is found.

Kobler said that he asked the Iraqi Government to "give us time, to give us space, in order to bring about a peaceful, humanitarian solution."

Kobler noted that any workable solution must be acceptable to both the Iraqi Government and residents of Camp Ashraf. A solution must respect Iraqi sovereignty, on the one hand, and be in line with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws, on the other.