ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Saturday announced the end of Iraq’s obligation of the Oil-for-Food program within Chapter VII of the United Nations charter.

Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, prompting the UN Security Council to place Iraq in Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which includes sanctions and considers the country a threat.

The Oil-for-Food Program established by the United Nations in 1995 under the UN Security Council Resolution 986. The program was created in response to UN sanctions on the dictatorial system in Iraq which allowed the country to sell oil in the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for the citizens of Iraq.

Kuwait has objected the departure of Iraq from Chapter VII for years due to unresolved disputes over borders, missing persons, property and other issues with the country.

The decision to remove Iraq from the Chapter VII on the oil-for-food program came after the “diplomatic successes” of Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.

“All the measures imposed by the Security Council in resolutions 1958 (2010) and 2335 (2016) pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations have been fully implemented by the parties,” according to Resolution 2390 (2017) of the Security Council published on Friday.

Following the adoption, Amy Noel Tachco (United States) applauded Iraq’s complete implementation of measures under the oil-for-food programme, although the country still faced many challenges. She looked forward to close cooperation internationally and bilaterally in support of Iraq as a federal, democratic and prosperous country.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry quoted the Security Council that the resolution “is an important step in the restoration of Iraq’s natural status and international standing, which confirms the end of Iraq’s obligations under Chapter VII on the oil-for-food program after it was implemented in full.”

Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq, occupied Kuwait for seven months from August 1990 to February 1991 before being driven out by an international coalition led by the US.

Following the fall of the dictatorship system in 2003, both Iraq and Kuwait took actions to address controversial issues between them.

Source     www.kurdistan24.net