Wednesday, November 29, 2006
UNSC extends MNFI mandate
Security
The UN Security Council has unanimously extended the mandate of the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq until the end of next year. The council was responding to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton welcomed the vote a day ahead of planned talks in Jordan between al-Maliki and U.S. President George W. Bush on how to bring violence under control.
"The Security Council remains strongly of the view that we need to see stability in Iraq and continued progress toward democracy," he said. "And the fact that it was a unanimous vote shows that all the countries want to contribute to it, and I think the explanation vote by France made it clear we all share the same objective. I think that's something that neighboring countries need to take into account." The resolution stated the mandate of the 160,000-strong force would be terminated earlier if requested by the government of Iraq.
"The Security Council remains strongly of the view that we need to see stability in Iraq and continued progress toward democracy," he said. "And the fact that it was a unanimous vote shows that all the countries want to contribute to it, and I think the explanation vote by France made it clear we all share the same objective. I think that's something that neighboring countries need to take into account." The resolution stated the mandate of the 160,000-strong force would be terminated earlier if requested by the government of Iraq.
