Iraq

Recent Sanctions-related UN Resolutions

15 December 2010 – With Resolution 1956 the Security Council decides that after 30 June 2011, the requirement established in resolution 1483 (2003) that all proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas from Iraq be deposited into the Development Fund for Iraq shall no longer apply.

With Resolution 1957 on 15 December 2010, the Security Council decides to terminate the weapons of mass destruction, missile, and civil nuclear-related measures imposed by the resolutions 687 and 707 (1991).

24 November 2003, The Security Council decided today through resolution 1518 to establish a Sanctions Committee to continue to identify individuals and entities according to resolution 1483, that have funds or other financial assets or economic resources that have been removed from Iraq. The tasks of the Committee will also include updating the list of individuals and entities that have already been identified by the previous 661 Committee, terminated by resolution 1483 (2003).

22 November 2003, The United Nations Oil-for-Food programme, which fed 60 per cent of Iraq's population for seven years under UN sanctions, was terminated on Friday 21 November. The programme, the largest ever administrated by the UN in financial terms, transferred all operational responsibility, including humanitarian projects funded by oil revenues, to the United States-run Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) as of midnight Friday. The programme, which allowed the Government of Iraq to sell oil for food and humanitarian supplies, became obsolete after resolution 1483 in May 2003 lifted the sanctions against the country.

16 October 2003, after weeks of intensive negotiations, the Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution on Iraq. The resolution says that the UN should strengthen its vital role in Iraq by providing humanitarian relief and efforts to establish national and local institutions for representative government.

However, member states like France, Germany and Russia say that the resolution is not adequate for the situation in Iraq and that is why no additional military and material help will be offered.

For the resolution see UN News.

On 22 May the Security Council adopted a new resolution on Iraq, S/2003/1483, which lifts the sanctions imposed almost 13 years ago following the invasion of Kuwait. The new resolution sets up a government infrastructure under the authority of the US and coalition partners until an internationally recognised Iraqi government has been established. The prohibitions on the sale or supply of arms to Iraq remain in place and are added with the freezing of financial assets removed from Iraq, or acquired, by Saddam Hussein or other senior officials of the former Iraqi regime. The Council also decided to terminate the Sanctions Committee (res. 661) at the conclusion of the six month period called for in resolution 1483. The resolution also calls on Secretary-General Kofi Annan to appoint a Special Representative to coordinate humanitarian aid and work with the occupying authority to restore national and local institutions.

On 24 November, the Security Council decided today through resolution 1518 to establish a Sanctions Committee to continue to identify individuals and entities according to resolution 1483, that have funds or other financial assets or economic resources that have been removed from Iraq. The tasks of the Committee will also include updating the list of individuals and entities that have already been identified by the previous 661 Committee, terminated by resolution 1483 (2003).