Statement / by the President of the Security Ciuncil

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 4868th meeting, 20 Nov. 2003, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The situation between Iraq and Kuwait"]

Underlines the exceptionally important role of the Iraq Programme in providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq under the regime of sanctions imposed by the Security Council; emphasizes the need for continued international efforts aimed at the reconstruction of Iraq and, in this context, takes note with satisfaction of the statements made by the United States and the United Kingdom on the measures which the Coalition Provisional Authority intends to take in order to continue the payment mechanisms and the deliveries under the Programme; recognizes the important role of the UN in coordinating the termination of the Programme, including the transfer at the earliest possible time of all surplus funds in the escrow accounts to the Development Fund for Iraq; recalls the vital role foreseen for the UN in resolutions 1483 (2003), 1500 (2003) and 1511 (2003), as circumstances permit, inter alia, in the areas of humanitarian assistance, facilitation of economic rehabilitation and reconstruction.

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