FM, Melkert discuss ways to bring Iraq out of Chapter VII

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari discussed on Monday with Ad Melkert, United Nations special representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, bringing Iraq out of Chapter VII, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. “The two officials discussed the role that could be played by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to help bringing Iraq out of Chapter VII,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. On February 26, 2010, the United Nations Security Council issued a statement in which it welcomed Iraq’s steps and efforts in the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Security Council Resolution 678 was the legal authorization for the Gulf War, which was passed on 29 November 1990. It gave Iraq an opportunity to withdraw from Kuwait by 15 January 1991 and authorized UN member states in cooperation with the government of Kuwait to use “all necessary means to uphold and implement” Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force to restore peace. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets forth the powers of the UN Security Council to maintain peace. It allows the council to “determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression” and to take military and non-military action to “restore international peace and security.” SH (S)/SR 1