S/2017/710 - Letter from Iraq asking for the assistance of the international community in their effort to prosecute the terrorist organization ISIL.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2017/710

Distr.: General
16 August 2017
Original: English

Letter dated 14 August 2017 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honour to convey herewith a copy of the letter dated 9 August 2017 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, regarding international assistance in holding Daesh accountable (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Mohamed Sahib Marzooq
Chargé d'affaires a.i.

Annex to the letter dated 14 August 2017 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

[Original: Arabic]

At this critical juncture in our country's history, our armed forces as a whole, including the army, the counter-terrorism forces, the federal police, the popular mobilization, the Peshmerga and tribesmen, have achieved a great victory by liberating Mosul from the clutches of the terrorist organization Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In so doing, our heroic forces strived assiduously to carry out their duties with a high level of professionalism while respecting international human rights law. Their accomplishment was recognized by the world and is a source of pride and honour.

The Government of Iraq, with the cooperation and support of the international coalition, has strived mightily to defeat ISIL and achieved glorious military victories. With the assistance of the international community, it has provided every type of humanitarian assistance to millions of displaced persons. However, thousands of civilians have suffered as a result of the abominable crimes that were committed by that terrorist organization.

The crimes committed by the terrorist organization ISIL against civilians and its destruction of infrastructure and antiquities in Iraq are crimes against humanity. It is therefore important to bring to justice, in accordance with Iraqi law, the members of the terrorist gangs of ISIL who have committed such crimes.

In view of the above, we call on you to ask the international community to provide assistance, so that we can make use of international expertise in our effort to prosecute the terrorist entity ISIL. The Republic of Iraq and the United Kingdom will work together to present a draft resolution in that regard. However, Iraq must maintain its national sovereignty and retain jurisdiction, and its laws must be respected, both when negotiating and implementing the resolution.

I should like to thank you for your diligent efforts to combat terrorism and to reiterate that we are prepared to cooperate with you in that regard. I kindly ask that you convey this request to the Security Council.

(Signed) Ibrahim Al-Jaafari
Minister for Foreign Affairs

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16Aug17

Letter from Iraq asking for the assistance of the international community in their effort to prosecute the terrorist organization ISIL