Kuwaiti disappointment in finding fate of missing in Iraq 'understandable'

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that the disappointment of Kuwaiti families with the lack of progress in finding the fate of loved ones since 2004 is understandable and the Iraqi authority should continue its "commendable" efforts to find the remaining missing individuals. In his first report to the Security Council since it abolished the post of the UN High Level Coordinator on the issues of missing Kuwaiti and other nationals and property by resolution 2107 last June, Ban said "I understand the disappointment and share the grief of the families of those still unaccounted for over the lack of tangible results." The report was prepared by Gyorgy Buszting, his Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs at the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to oversee both files. He said Iraq's exploratory and excavation missions are "commendable and should continue," urging Iraqi nationals, both inside and outside of Iraq, who possess information on missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals "to come forward so that Iraqi efforts in locating burial sites could bear results." He also commended the "steadfastness and practical contribution" of the members of the Tripartite Commission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - Iraq, Kuwait and the 1991 liberation war coalition - and its Technical Subcommittee towards resolving the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals. Ban said Busztin stressed to his Iraqi and Kuwaiti interlocutors during his visit to both countries UNAMI's interest in becoming an observer in the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee. He noted that while members of the Kuwaiti National Committee for Missing Persons and Prisoners of War Affairs "expressed concerns" about the possible politicization of the humanitarian issue if UNAMI becomes an observer, all Kuwaiti officials "looked forward to working closely with UNAMI." He said Kuwaiti officials also noted that it was "disappointing" that no remains of Kuwaiti and third country nationals had been found since 2004, and, in order to overcome the difficulty of acquiring quality information, "wondered if 'reward amounts' could be increased to encourage informants and witnesses to come out with leads on the location of mass grave sites." He added that the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights interviewed several informants and witnesses, and the Government provided to Kuwait a list of nearly 30 former army officers supposedly living in third countries. "Kuwait is studying the list," he said. He noted that a specialized team of the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights carried out detection and excavations missions in the Khamisiyah site in Dhi Qar governorate from August 29 to September 1st, and from September 24th to October ninth. Several sites were revisited and screened on the basis of new information and in the presence of a witness, he explained, adding that approximately 450 trenches of different lengths and depths were dug, but no human remains were found, but the site is "still considered 'promising' due to the earlier finds by Kuwait." At the suggestion that satellite imagery relating to the 1991 liberation war and before could help locate grave sites containing remains of missing Kuwaiti nationals, the National Committee for the Missing Persons and Prisoners of War Affairs said it was informed by the US Government that it had no such imageries available to assist in the search. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry, however, said it was awaiting a reply from the Russian Government regarding its request for satellite imagery of the burial sites dating back to 1990 and 1991. On the issue of Kuwaiti national archives and other property, Ban said it is "of concern that no progress has been made with regard to the search for the Kuwaiti national archives and other property items, and that no reliable leads have surfaced that could help locate their whereabouts." He took note of Iraq's efforts to bring tangible results, including through publishing announcements and notices, urged the Iraqi committee coordinating this search to convene "without further delay and meet frequently," and encouraged both the Iraqi and Kuwaiti committees to work closely and meet together on a regular basis. In this regard, Iraqi officials suggested that the second joint meeting of the committees take place on the margins of the third meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee scheduled for December in Kuwait. Kuwaiti officials, he added, were of the opinion that the committees meet together on a quarterly basis. He said Iraqi authorities sought "advice and support" from UNAMI and welcomed its interest in participating in all Iraqi committees and in the joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti committees on property. He reiterated UNAMI's "determination to promote, support and facilitate" the Iraqi Government's efforts aimed at repatriating or returning all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains as well as returning Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. "It is my hope that these efforts carried out in close cooperation with and the support from all concerned parties will soon bring positive results," he concluded.