Security Council resolution 1723 (2006) [on extension of the mandate of the Multinational Force in Iraq]
Symbol: S/RES/1723(2006)
Date: 2006-11-28
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/61 [119] IRAQ SITUATION
Subjects: Multinational Force in Iraq|Development Fund for Iraq|Development Fund for Iraq. International Advisory and Monitoring Board|Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|PETROLEUM REVENUES|IRAQ|IRAQ SITUATION|FUNDS|PERIODIC REPORTS|UNITED STATES
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: DENMARK
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: GREECE
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: QATAR
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SLOVAKIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/1723 (2006)
               Security Council                                                      Distr.: General
                                                                                     28 November 2006




               Resolution 1723 (2006)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 5574th meeting on
               28 November 2006

                       The Security Council,
                     Welcoming the formation of a national unity government in Iraq with a detailed
               political, economic and security programme and a strong national reconciliation
               agenda and looking forward to the day Iraqi forces assume full responsibility for the
               maintenance of security and stability in their country, thus allowing the completion
               of the multinational force mandate and the end of its presence in Iraq,
                    Welcoming the progress made to date in the training and equipping of Iraqi
               security forces as well as in the transfer of security responsibilities to those forces in
               Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces and looking forward to the continuation of that
               process during 2007,
                       Recalling all of its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq,
                       Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of
               Iraq,
                     Reaffirming also the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own
               political future and control their own national resources,
                     Welcoming the continuing work of the Government of Iraq towards a federal,
               democratic, pluralistic, and unified Iraq, in which there is full respect for human
               rights,
                     Welcoming the vital role played by the Government of Iraq in continuing to
               promote national dialogue and reconciliation in pursuit of an atmosphere in which
               sectarianism is totally rejected, including the National Reconciliation Plan
               announced by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki, stressing the importance of the rapid
               implementation of the plan, and reaffirming the willingness of the international
               community to work closely with the Government of Iraq to assist these
               reconciliation efforts,
                    Recognizing the International Compact with Iraq, an initiative of the
               Government of Iraq to create a new partnership with the international community
               and to build a strong framework for Iraq’s continued political, security and
               economic transformation and integration into the regional and global economy, and
               welcoming the important role that the United Nations is playing by jointly chairing
               the Compact with the Government of Iraq,


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                     Calling upon the international community, particularly countries in the region
               and Iraq’s neighbours, to support the Iraqi people in their pursuit of peace, stability,
               security, democracy, and prosperity, and noting that the successful implementation
               of this resolution will contribute to regional stability,
                    Demanding those who use violence in an attempt to subvert the political
               process should lay down their arms and participate in the political process, and
               encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue to engage with all those who
               renounce violence,
                     Reaffirming that acts of terrorism must not be allowed to disrupt Iraq’s
               political and economic transition, and further reaffirming the obligations of Member
               States under resolution 1618 (2005) of 4 August 2005 and other relevant resolutions
               and international conventions with respect, inter alia, to terrorist activities in and
               from Iraq or against its citizens,
                     Recognizing the request conveyed in the letter of 11 November 2006 from the
               Prime Minister of Iraq to the President of the Council, which is annexed to this
               resolution, to retain the presence of the multinational force in Iraq, and affirming the
               common goals therein: Iraqi assumption of recruiting, training, equipping, and
               arming of the Iraqi Security Forces; Iraqi assumption of command and control over
               Iraqi forces; and the transfer of responsibility for security to the Government of
               Iraq,
                    Recognizing the importance of consent of the sovereign government of Iraq for
               the presence of the multinational force and of close coordination and partnership
               between the multinational force and that government,
                     Welcoming the willingness of the multinational force to continue efforts to
               contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq, including
               participating in the provision of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, as
               described in the letter of 17 November 2006 from the United States Secretary of
               State to the President of the Council, which is annexed to this resolution,
                     Recognizing the tasks and arrangements set out in letters annexed to resolution
               1546 (2004) of 8 June 2004 and the cooperative implementation by the Government
               of Iraq and the multinational force of those arrangements,
                     Affirming the importance for all forces promoting the maintenance of security
               and stability in Iraq to act in accordance with international law, including
               obligations under international humanitarian law, and to cooperate with the relevant
               international organizations, and welcoming their commitments in this regard,
                     Recalling the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq
               (UNAMI) on 14 August 2003, and affirming that the United Nations should continue
               to play a leading role in assisting the Iraqi people and government with further
               political and economic development, including advising and supporting the
               Government of Iraq, providing strong support in developing the International
               Compact with Iraq, contributing to coordination and delivery of reconstruction,
               development and humanitarian assistance, and promoting the protection of human
               rights, national reconciliation, as well as judicial and legal reform in order to
               strengthen the rule of law in Iraq,
                    Recognizing that international support for security and stability is essential to
               the well-being of the people of Iraq as well as the ability of all concerned, including


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           the United Nations, to carry out their work on behalf of the people of Iraq, and
           expressing appreciation for Member State contributions in this regard under
           resolution 1483 (2003), resolution 1511 (2003), resolution 1546 (2004) and
           resolution 1637 (2005),
                 Recognizing that the Government of Iraq will continue to have the primary
           role in coordinating international assistance to Iraq and reaffirming the importance
           of international assistance and development of the Iraqi economy and the
           importance of coordinated donor assistance,
                 Recognizing the significant role of the Development Fund for Iraq and the
           International Advisory and Monitoring Board in helping the Government of Iraq to
           ensure that Iraq’s resources are being used transparently and equitably for the
           benefit of the people of Iraq,
                 Stressing the responsibility of the Iraqi authorities to undertake all appropriate
           steps to prevent attacks on the diplomatic personnel accredited in Iraq in accordance
           with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961,
                 Determining that the situation in Iraq continues to constitute a threat to
           international peace and security,
                Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                 1.   Notes that the presence of the multinational force in Iraq is at the request
           of the Government of Iraq and reaffirms the authorization for the multinational force
           as set forth in resolution 1546 (2004) and decides to extend the mandate of the
           multinational force as set forth in that resolution until 31 December 2007, taking
           into consideration the Iraqi Prime Minister’s letter dated 11 November 2006 and the
           United States Secretary of State’s letter dated 17 November 2006;
                 2.   Decides further that the mandate for the multinational force shall be
           reviewed at the request of the Government of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007, and
           declares that it will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the Government
           of Iraq;
                3.    Decides to extend until 31 December 2007 the arrangements established
           in paragraph 20 of resolution 1483 (2003) for the depositing into the Development
           Fund for Iraq of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and
           natural gas and the arrangements referred to in paragraph 12 of resolution 1483
           (2003) and paragraph 24 of resolution 1546 (2004) for the monitoring of the
           Development Fund for Iraq by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board;
                 4.    Decides further that the provisions in the above paragraph for the deposit
           of proceeds into the Development Fund for Iraq and for the role of the International
           Advisory and Monitoring Board shall be reviewed at the request of the Government
           of Iraq or no later than 15 June 2007;
              5.   Requests that the Secretary-General continue to report to the Council on
           UNAMI operations in Iraq on a quarterly basis;
                6.    Requests that the United States, on behalf of the multinational force,
           continue to report to the Council on the efforts and progress of this force on a
           quarterly basis;
                7.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.



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Annex I
               Letter dated 11 November 2006 from the Prime Minister of Iraq
               addressed to the President of the Security Council

                                                                      [Original: Arabic and English]
                     Iraq has taken in the specified time the steps required for the completion of the
               political process, in particular the drafting of a permanent constitution and the
               laying of foundations for building its political and legal institutions. In May 2006,
               the constitutionally elected Council of Representatives formed a Government of
               national unity. The steps for building a democratic, federal and united Iraq were
               consolidated by the commitment of the Government to adopt a dialogue and national
               reconciliation scheme, secure broad political participation, monitor human rights,
               establish the rule of law and economic development and provide services to citizens.
                     Establishing security and securing permanent stability are among the highest
               priorities of the Iraqi Government’s programme to realize the desired peace and
               prosperity for the Iraqi people. However, terrorists and forces hostile to democracy
               continue to target innocent citizens and the various State institutions.
                     Security and stability in Iraq are the responsibility of the Iraqi Government.
               The Security Council affirmed in its resolution 1546 (2004) that Iraqi security forces
               would play a progressively greater role in enabling the Iraqi Government to assume
               that responsibility, diminishing and thereby ending the role of the multinational
               force, when the responsibility for security of the Iraqi security forces increases and
               expands. From the experience of the past two and a half years, it was established
               that the Iraqi security forces, which operated under the command of the Iraqi
               Government, had acquired new experiences and responsibilities and had grown in
               size, experience and capacity, demonstrated by their increased ability to assume full
               responsibility in the fields of security and defence.
                     We started to reap the fruits of success when our forces assumed responsibility
               for security in the governorates of Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar. In September 2006,
               the Ministry of Defence assumed the operational command and control of the
               ground, naval and air force commands. It also assumed operational command and
               control over two military divisions, indicating an increase in the ability of the Iraqi
               Army to assume the leadership in providing security to the Iraqi people. The Iraqi
               Government is also relentlessly working on building the necessary administrative
               and logistics system to make our Iraqi forces self-sufficient.
                     It is the intention of the Iraqi Government to continue increasing the number
               of governorates that fall fully under the control of the Iraqi authorities during 2006,
               until all 18 are under their control. When the responsibilities for security are
               transferred to the Iraqi authorities in a certain governorate, the multinational force
               will be present in its bases and can provide support to Iraqi security forces at the
               request of the Iraqi authorities, in accordance with an agreement that allocates the
               authorities and responsibilities between the two sides.
                     We have agreed on three common goals: first, assumption by Iraq of
               recruiting, training, equipping and arming of Iraqi security forces; second,
               assumption by Iraq of command and control over Iraqi forces; and third, transferring
               responsibility for security to the Government of Iraq. We have formed a high-level
               working group that will provide recommendations on how best to achieve these


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           goals. It has also been agreed to work towards the Iraqi authorities’ assuming the
           apprehension, detention and imprisonment tasks on the basis of an agreement to be
           reached between the Government of Iraq and the multinational force.
                Hence, the Iraqi Government requests the extension of the mandate of the
           multinational force in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1546 (2004)
           and 1637 (2005) and the letters attached thereto for another 12 months starting on
           31 December 2006, provided that the extension is subject to a commitment by the
           Council to end the mandate at an earlier date if the Iraqi Government so requests
           and that the mandate is subject to periodic review before 15 June 2007. The Iraqi
           Government requests the termination of the UNMOVIC mission due to the
           completion of its tasks. The Iraqi Government believes that the time has come to
           terminate the war compensations that were imposed on Iraq.
                 The Iraqi Government realizes that the provisions of resolution 1546 (2004)
           relating to the depositing of revenues in the Development Fund for Iraq and the role
           of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board help to ensure the use of the
           natural resources of Iraq for the benefit of the people of Iraq. We recognize that the
           fund plays an important role in convincing donors and creditors that Iraq is
           managing its resources and debts in a responsible way for the Iraqi people. This role
           is vital, especially since Iraq is seeking to form a new partnership with the
           international community to build a vital network for economic transformation and
           integration in the economies of the region and the world through the International
           Compact with Iraq. We ask the Security Council to extend the mandate of the
           Development Fund for Iraq and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board
           for another 12 months and to review this mandate based on the request of the Iraqi
           Government before 15 June 2007.
                 The people of Iraq are determined to establish a stable and peaceful democracy
           for themselves and a proper basis for building a vital economy. This vision for the
           future of Iraq cannot become a reality without the help of the international
           community.
                We realize that the Security Council intends to append the present letter to the
           special resolution concerning Iraq that is being prepared. Meanwhile, I ask that the
           present letter be distributed to the members of the Security Council as soon as
           possible.

                                                                (Signed) Nuri Kamel al-Maliki
                                                          Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq




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Annex II
               Letter dated 17 November 2006 from the Secretary of State of the
               United States of America to the President of the Security Council

                     Having reviewed the request of the Government of Iraq to extend the mandate
               of the Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq and following consultations with the
               Government of Iraq, I am writing to confirm, consistent with this request, that MNF
               under unified command stands ready to continue to fulfil its mandate as set out in
               Security Council resolution 1546 (2004) and extended by Security Council
               resolution 1637 (2005).
                     The Government of Iraq and MNF in Iraq continue to improve their
               cooperation through a security partnership to combat the challenges that threaten
               Iraq’s security and stability. This partnership has evolved over time to incorporate
               the increasing leadership by Iraqi security forces in fighting and deterring terrorism
               and other violent acts throughout Iraq’s 18 provinces. In the context of this
               partnership, MNF is prepared to continue to undertake a broad range of tasks to
               contribute to the maintenance of security and stability and to ensure force
               protection, acting under the authorities set forth in resolution 1546 (2004), including
               the tasks and arrangements set out in the letters annexed thereto, and in close
               cooperation with the Government of Iraq. The forces that make up MNF will remain
               committed to acting consistently with their obligations and rights under
               international law, including the law of armed conflict.
                    Iraqi security forces have already made substantial progress this year in
               developing their capabilities and, as a result, they are shouldering a greater portion
               of the responsibility for Iraq’s security. This progress is most notable in their
               assumption of security responsibility in Dhi Qar and Muthana and the assumption of
               operational command and control over the Ground, Naval, and Air Force Commands
               and two Iraqi military divisions by the Ministry of Defense.
                     The Government of Iraq and MNF have agreed on three common goals: Iraqi
               assumption of recruiting, training, equipping and arming of the Iraqi security forces;
               Iraqi assumption of command and control over Iraqi forces; and transferring
               responsibility for security to the Government of Iraq. We look forward to
               recommendations from the newly formed high-level working group on how these
               goals can best be achieved. The strong partnership between the Government of Iraq
               and MNF is a vital factor in fulfilling these goals. Together we will build towards
               the day when the Iraqi forces assume full responsibility for the maintenance of
               security and stability in Iraq.
                    The co-sponsors intend to annex this letter to the resolution on Iraq that is
               under consideration. In the meantime, I request that you provide copies of the
               present letter to members of the Council as quickly as possible.

                                                                          (Signed) Condoleezza Rice




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