Security Council Press Statement on Iraq-Kuwait

The members of the Security Council were briefed on 22 May 2017 by the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for
Iraq (UNAMI), Jan Kubis, on the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and
missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, following the recent report of the
Secretary-General.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the strong bilateral relations between Iraq and
Kuwait and commended the Government of Kuwaits continued support for Iraq in its efforts to
achieve stability. The members of the Security Council encouraged the two countries, as per
Security Council resolution 2107 (2013), to collaborate closely through the tripartite mechanism
on the file of missing Kuwaiti persons and third-country nationals (the file) to achieve further
concrete results.

The members of the Security Council noted the limited progress made on this issue recently and
expressed their regret that no cases of missing Kuwaiti persons have been solved and no human
remains exhumed over the past 12 years. The members reiterated their deepest sympathy and
condolences to the families of the missing.

The members of the Security Council, while recognizing the considerable challenges facing Iraq
at this time, called on the Government of Iraq to continue in its efforts to achieve tangible
progress with respect to returning all missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their
remains, in addition to returning Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. The members
of the Security Council recognized that important steps have been taken recently to reinvigorate
this file, and were encouraged by the commitment of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence to the file, as
evidenced by recent activities. The Council strongly encouraged the Governments of Iraq and
Kuwait to reconvene the Joint Property Committee, every six months, as agreed.

The members of the Security Council expressed their strong support for the perseverance of the
members of the tripartite mechanism and its chair, the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC), in an effort to locate the remains of the missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals. In
this regard, the Council supported the Secretary-Generals opinion that ascertaining the fate of
missing persons and providing answers to their grieving families depend on steadfast
commitment, action and the adoption of new and innovative ways to push the file forward. The
members of the Council looked forward to publication of the first draft of the ICRCS Case
Review initiative, delayed until August 2017.

The members of the Security Council expressed their intention to remain engaged in this issue.

The members of the Security Council commended the efforts of UNAMI, its Special
Representative and its Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs to continue to
promote, support and facilitate the efforts of the Government of Iraq.

14 June 2017