Iran tells UN to end Iraq’s Chapter VII status

February 25, 2010 · Posted in NEWS
Iran tells UN to end Iraq’s Chapter VII status
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – In separate meetings with UN envoy to Iraq Staffan de Mistura, high-ranking Iranian officials asked the United Nations to make efforts to remove Iraq from the provisions of Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said the UN should end Iraq’s Chapter VII status due to the improvement in the country’s security situation.

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However, the U.S. has made Baghdad’s acceptance of the proposed Iraq-U.S. security pact a prerequisite for the cancellation of its Chapter VII status, Larijani said.

According to Chapter VII, the UN Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations; it also gives the Military Staff Committee accountability for strategic coordination of forces led by the UN Security Council.

Larijani said the United States does not want to hand power back to the Iraqis, which will lead to a national uprising in Iraq.

“The presence of the U.S. forces in Iraq is to the disadvantage of the United States and increases tension in the region,” Larijani told the UN representative to Iraq.

Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili said, “In light of the deep culture and civilization of the Iraqis, they (Iraqis) can determine their destiny in a proper political atmosphere.”

Noting that Iran is prepared to help resolve Iraq’s problems, Jalili stated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that stabilization and democracy are the keys to resolving Iraq’s problems. Maintaining such an approach, the Islamic Republic of Iran spares no effort in supporting the endeavors to establish the political and democratic foundations of the country.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Jalili emphasized that the opening of embassies in Iraq would help strengthen Iraq’s relations with other nations, but added, “The measures of the occupiers, such as raiding embassies and consulates and kidnapping diplomats, will hinder this process.”

De Mistura expressed his gratitude to Iran for the important role it is playing in Iraq and asked Tehran to increase its cooperation with the UN office in Iraq to help promote democracy and establish security in the country.

In his meeting with Jalili, the UN official said, “Iraq has a wealth of capacities which can revolutionize its economy if security and democracy are established.”

“The regional assistance, especially from Iran, has been very effective in improving Iraq’s economic and security situation,” de Mistura told Larijani.

The United Nations welcomes regional cooperation, particularly with Iran, in the efforts to establish security in Iraq, he said