The situation between Iraq and Kuwait - Security Council, 10252nd meeting

The 10,252nd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: the situation between Iraq and Kuwait. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Iraq and Kuwait to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. I welcome His Excellency Mr. Alajani to this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Marine Yamashita, senior representative of the Secretary-General for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2792 of 2025, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I also wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2026/785, a letter dated 1 October 2026 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. I now give the floor to Ms. Marim Yamashita.

Madam President, thank you for the opportunity to brief the Council on the implementation of resolution 2792 concerning the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains. and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. More than 35 years after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, this humanitarian file remains unresolved. The fact of the matter is that out of the original 605 missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals, the fate of only 290 individuals were clarified over the past three decades while 315 remain missing, including 308 from Kuwait. August 2023 was the last time when the identity of a missing person was confirmed. Madam President, since assuming my responsibilities, I had the distinct honour to visit Iraq and Kuwait twice, and I thank both countries for their generous hospitality and support. I also had the opportunity to attend the two meetings of the ICRC-led Tripartite Mechanism in our observer capacity, which has given me some insight on the ongoing efforts and challenges associated with this file. I would like to acknowledge the important role of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the professionalism with which it continues to chair the Tripartite Mechanism. And yet absence of significant breakthroughs In recent years, the ICRC has taken important initiatives in its own quest for meaningful progress. They have undertaken a comprehensive review of their own archives of the past 35 years. They explore innovative ways to further narrow potential priority sites through the application of new methodologies, including data-driven and evidence-based analysis, a result of meticulous expert analysis of existing data. These new approaches have already been applied to the sites in Kamisiya, Karbala, Samawa, and Salman Pak. Over the years, extensive efforts were undertaken to clarify the fate of the missing persons, including excavations at several burial sites across the country, most of them located in southern Iraq. According to the Iraqi authorities, these efforts have included the excavation of 14,000 trenches at the Kamisiya site, as well as numerous field missions to sites of interest. More recently, the Technical Subcommittee has continued to focus on the priority site of Khameesiyah, which is presumed to contain the remains of between 150 and 180 missing Kuwaiti nationals. If confirmed, this would account for at least half of the remaining caseload. In September, the ICRC and Iraqi authorities undertook a joint field mission to the site. We hope that the findings reported from the September mission will lead to excavation activities as soon as possible. Madam President, despite these efforts, the principal challenge remains the identification of new information and credible witnesses. After more than three decades, new witnesses are increasingly difficult to identify, while opportunities to obtain first-hand information continue to diminish. We are running out of time. Over the years, Iraq issued broadcasts for witnesses with relevant information to come forward. More recently, on 30 August, Iraq, with the support of the ICRC, launched a new, more targeted public outreach campaign focused on communities in areas of interest, designed to reflect local conditions and encourage individuals with relevant information to come forward. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including with witnesses who have previously provided information. In one case, a key witness associated with the priority site of Qamisliya had provided accounts that differ from his original testimony and is no longer willing to cooperate. It is regrettable that the Government of Iraq was not able to secure his participation in a recent joint ICRC-Iraqi field mission to Qamisliya, as his presence could have helped further narrow down areas of interest at that site. In another case, the ICRC requested access to nine key members of the former regime who have been identified as potentially important witnesses since last year. However, one was executed in February 2026. While Iraq announced in July that approvals were given to interview the other eight witnesses, in accordance with ICRC established working modalities, this is yet to be materialized. These are some of examples of commitments made, but actions delayed. Time is not on our side, and we need greater sense of urgency to accelerate efforts. We encourage targeted efforts to engage more expeditiously with known witnesses to help generate additional leads and support ongoing efforts to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. Madam President, during my recent visit to Kuwait, I met family members of missing persons. Their message was compelling. After 35 years, their pain and trauma is felt every day. They continue to seek answers regarding the fate of their loved ones. Their perseverance serves as a powerful reminder that this file is, above all, humanitarian in nature. Many emphasized that closure may ultimately require not only the recovery and identification of remains, but also memorialization initiatives that acknowledge the suffering endured by the victims and their families. They stated their readiness to contribute to ongoing efforts and urged all stakeholders to pursue every credible lead. Their appeal reinforces the need to keep the humanitarian dimension of this file at the center of our collective efforts. Madam President, allow me to address the issue of missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. Over the years, some missing property has been returned, including materials transferred to the Kuwaiti National Library, to Kuwait’s Ministry of Information, and books and microfilm recordings, but meaningful progress has been limited. Key state records and archives remain missing. A clear pathway towards identifying and locating the missing property in archives, along with a plan of action, is needed. A previously proposed joint Iraq-Kuwait committee could serve as a practical mechanism to facilitate regular dialogue and cooperation to lead to actual progress. Madam President, I was encouraged by the recent high-level meeting between the Crown Prince of Kuwait and the Prime Minister of Iraq on the margins of the UN General Assembly and the announcement of a working group to address outstanding bilateral issues between the two countries. Such engagement remain important in sustaining the constructive environment needed to advance the humanitarian objectives of this mandate, to strengthen mutual confidence and to support continued cooperation in the future. Madam President, allow me to conclude by recognizing the efforts of Iraq, Kuwait, the ICRC, and the members of the Tripartite Commission over the decades. We need to sustain the momentum through continued cooperation by sharing relevant information, technical expertise, and new analytical tools. Every credible lead must be pursued in support of this important humanitarian objective. Resolution 27/92 was the promise of this Council to the families of the missing that we will keep our focus and support every effort to make progress. For the families who have lived with uncertainty for more than three decades, the need for answers remain as urgent today as ever. At the end of the evening, with family members of the missing in Kuwait, one woman left speaking these words: "Tonight, I will have to fight with the demons again. God knows what sleepless nights will follow. Let us renew our collective resolve to bring peace to the families. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Masita for her briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Many thanks, President, and I thank Senior Representative Yamashita for her briefing and welcome the Assistant Foreign Minister from Kuwait and the Permanent Representative of Iraq to this meeting. The consequences of conflict do not end when arms are laid down. For families of those who remain missing, uncertainty over the fate of a loved one can endure for generations. Helping those families find answers remains an enduring humanitarian imperative. President, 315 Kuwaiti and third-country nationals remain missing, and there have been no new identifications since the Secretary General’s last report. This underlines both the difficulty of the task and the importance of sustaining our efforts and pursuing every credible avenue that could provide families with answers. We welcome the work of the Secretary General’s Senior Representative, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Tripartite Commission. And the United Kingdom is proud to support these efforts as a member of the Commission. We also welcome the practical steps being taken, including DNA analysis, the use of geospatial tools, the revised communication strategy, and renewed calls for witnesses. We hope these approaches can help unlock further progress. But technology alone cannot provide all of the answers. Credible witness information remains essential, and the number of potential witnesses will diminish with time. We therefore encourage anyone who may hold relevant information to come forward, and all those involved to continue identifying potential witnesses and following up every credible lead. It will also be important to establish a shared and practical basis for measuring progress. We encourage the Tripartite Commission to agree practical indicators that could help focus collective efforts and provide an objective basis for assessing progress ahead of the Council’s review in 2028. President, we also encourage renewed engagement on the separate issue of missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. This should include the resumption of the Joint Committee on Missing Kuwaiti Property. Finally, the mechanism established by resolution 2792 provides an opportunity to sustain cooperation and build mutual trust. We work on the Special Representative’s continued engagement with both countries and will continue to support her mandate. The United Kingdom remains committed to working with Iraq, Kuwait, and our partners in the Tripartite Commission towards our shared goal: providing answers to families who have waited for far too long. Thank you.

Representative of the United Kingdom for her statement, and now give the floor to the representative of Liberia.

Thank you, Madam President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and my own country, Liberia. We thank Ms. Marie Yamashita for her first briefing to the Council as the Secretary General's senior representative and commend her engagement with both countries. We welcome the Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait and the Permanent Representative of Iraq. Madam President, for the families of the 315 Kuwaiti and third-country nationals, who are still unaccounted for, the passage of time has brought neither answers nor relief. Time makes the search more difficult. It does not diminish the responsibility. And we must always recognize our responsibility to pursue it. Determining their fate and whereabouts is a humanitarian obligation, which is consistent with international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The A3 reaffirms its support for resolution 2792 of 2005 and the senior representative's mandate. We welcome the tripartite commission's decision to grant her observer status and encourage close coordination with the parties and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Her good offices offer a means to sustain political attention, build confidence, and help resolve obstacles that the parties cannot overcome alone. We recognize the constructive efforts of Iraq and Kuwait. Nevertheless, the absence of new identifications during the reporting period alongside the lack of reported progress on missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives, underscores the need to turn sustained engagement into tangible results. We see three priorities. First, preserve and pursue the evidence while it remains available. witness testimony, archival records, and institutional knowledge become harder to recover with every passing year. We encourage Iraq to strengthen national coordination, facilitate access to relevant information and witnesses, and advance agreed field recovery, and forensic activities without delay. Second, give the search a clear operational direction. Working through the established mechanisms, the parties should identify the most promising leads, agree on practical next steps, and review obstacles regularly. Appropriate technology and forensic expertise should support these efforts. Families should receive clear and sensitive communication about progress and outstanding challenges. Third, restore momentum on missing Kuwaiti property. We encourage the reactivation of the joint committee and agreement on a documented process to establish what remains outstanding, including concerning the National Archives, and pursue its recovery and return. Across these priorities, the Tripartite Commission and the ICRC remain essential. The senior representative can help sustain political attention, facilitate cooperation, and bring obstacles requiring Council support to our attention. We encourage her reporting to identify concrete progress, unresolved impediments, and the assistance needed to move forward. The Council's regular consideration of these reports should help it assess where additional support is needed. Madam President, in addition, the A3 encourages the Iraq authorities to strengthen national coordination and accelerate decision-making in order to enable the effective implementation of the agreed activities. The A3 also stresses the importance of making active use of the technical resources, operational infrastructure, and technology made available by the international mechanism and the ICRC. Resolving these outstanding issues will honor the families' enduring search for answers and strengthening trust between Iraq and Kuwait. The A3 reaffirms that addressing these humanitarian issues will contribute to meeting the legitimate expectations of the families and reinforcing confidence between the two countries. Continued bilateral dialogue, guided by good neighborliness and the peaceful resolution of disputes, remains central to bringing this chapter of their shared history to a close. The Council’s responsibility, therefore, is to sustain attention. Our shared purpose must be to help deliver answers. The A3 remains committed to supporting both countries and the United Nations in this humanitarian endeavour so that families who have waited for decades may finally receive the closure and dignity they deserve. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of Liberia for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you very much, Madam President. We thank Ms. Marie Yamashita, for her briefing on the latest developments on the file. I welcome the participation of the distinguished Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait and the distinguished PR of Iraq in the meeting. The issue of missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, carries profound humanitarian significance. For families who have waited decades to learn the fate of their loved ones, every credible lead holds renewed hope. Resolving this long-standing humanitarian file deserves sustained attention, accompanied by determined and more intensified efforts. We thank the Secretary General for his latest update and appreciate the Senior Representative's work and her continued engagement, including with the leadership of Iraq and Kuwait. Pakistan enjoys close and brotherly relations with both countries. We supported the adoption of resolution 2792 in the sincere hope that the mechanism it established would facilitate concrete progress towards resolving this file. Our commitment remains firm. Pakistan welcomes both brotherly countries' reaffirmation of mutual respect. We hope that this will prove to be an important foundation for advancing the search for missing persons and the return of property and archives in a spirit of trust and good neighborliness. It is a matter of concern that no new identifications were made during the reporting period. We recognize the disappointment on the lack of progress and also acknowledge the difficult circumstances and the technical complexities of a search spanning several decades. These challenges underscore the importance of sustained cooperation, preservation of sources of evidence, adequate technical support, and diligent follow-up on every credible lead. At the same time, tangible results remain critical. Families need answers, and continued engagement should translate into desired results. We encourage close coordination among Iraq, Kuwait, the Senior Representative, the ICRC, and the Tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittee, including through timely information sharing and appropriate search and identification expertise. Efforts to locate and return missing Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, must likewise remain a priority. Pakistan will continue to support the United Nations facilitation and constructive cooperation to bring this humanitarian file to a satisfactory resolution, providing closure to affected families and further strengthening mutual confidence. I thank you very much.

Thank you, representative of Pakistan, for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, senior Representative Yamashita, for your briefing. Last year, the United States voted in favor of resolution 2792 to maintain momentum on humanitarian legacy files after the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq closed. We note the various confidence-building measures described in the Secretary-General’s update. However, there were no new identifications during this period and no progress on Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. Building confidence matters, but it is not sufficient on its own. Resolution 2792 mandated a specific focus for the Senior Representative, notably promoting, supporting, and facilitating efforts regarding the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains, and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. Success in this regard must be measured against meaningful progress towards these objectives. We urge the parties to promptly complete the action points they have agreed. This includes locating and interviewing known witnesses. We encourage the Tripartite Commission to finish its monitoring framework with clear key performance indicators, so that this Council can assess progress ahead of its review by June 2028. As the United States indicated, we expect all stakeholders to make serious, good-faith efforts to allow this new mechanism to finish its work as quickly as possible. We encourage the parties to cooperate in order to resolve the issues related to missing persons and property. The United States hopes the Secretary General's next update and our next briefing will show concrete progress and a clear focus on benchmark for success. Thank you.

Representative of the United States for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Thank you, Madam President. We thank the senior representative of the Secretary General for her presentation and for the impetus that she has given to this file since her appointment. We are also grateful for the commitment of Iraq, Kuwait, and the International Committee of the Red Cross that chairs the Tripartite Commission. More than 35 years on, 315 families still don't know what happened to their loved ones. Those figures were repeated today by the senior representative. The search is, above all, a humanitarian duty to the families, and every year that goes by makes it harder to find answers. Colombia reiterates that rectifying this reality is also a part of a broader mandate of this Council. In resolution 2474 of 2019, that was adopted by unanimity, this Council recalled the international law applicable to this question in accordance with international humanitarian law, in particular the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols of 1975, as well as the obligation of States Parties to respect and uphold those conventions in all circumstances. On that basis, the Council made a concrete appeal upon all of the parties to adopt all appropriate measures to actively search for missing persons, to clarify their fate, and, where possible, to return their remains to their families. My delegation reiterates that appeal, as the Secretary General has also said. This should lead to efforts to clarify the whereabouts of all missing persons, regardless of nationality, as well as to provide certainty and relief to families that are still awaiting responses. Madam President, for my delegation, it is worrying that over this time period, no identification has been established. What was agreed needs to be done. The commitments and the agreed actions in the tripartite commission and in the technical subcommittee need to be implemented without delay. The known witnesses need to be located without delay, with guarantees for their security. In particular, we look forward to concrete steps that will allow for full the full compliance of witnesses regarding the Khameisha site, one of the most promising sites. We welcome the broadcast for witnesses launched on 30 August and the increasing use of geospatial analysis, genetic testing, and the review of the archives. We agree with the Secretary-General that technologies are a valuable supplement, but they do not replace people who know where to look. With regard to Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, my delegation regrets that no progress has been made during the period. We encourage Iraq and Kuwait to reactivate the joint committee and to conduct an inventory of what is still outstanding. The understanding recently reached to establish which archives need to be looked for is a good starting point. Madam President, to conclude, Colombia has supported an efficient mechanism that will be measured by its results. My country welcomes the work that has been launched based on indicators, and we hope that the results will be reflected in the subsequent reports with a view to the review that this Council will carry out in 2028 without unjustified delays. Thank you very much.

The representative of Colombia for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam President, we thank the senior representative of the UN Secretary General, Mary Yamashita. We thank you for the briefing and the efforts undertaken to facilitate the resolution of the issues still outstanding between Iraq and Kuwait. We have consistently viewed the Iraq-Kuwait dossier, first and foremost, through a humanitarian prism. And we share the understanding that establishing the fate of missing Kuwaiti nationals and third-country nationals, returning their remains to their families, as well as Kuwaiti property, including national archives, would help contribute towards finally overcoming the difficult legacy of the tragic events of 1990-91 and towards strengthening good neighborly relations between the two states. And in this regard, we pay tribute to the good faith efforts made by Baghdad and Al Kuwait to implement the tasks set out in Security Council Resolution 2792. We welcome the contribution made by the tripartite commission chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the assistance provided by the senior representative of the Secretary General. At the same time, it should be acknowledged that work in this area is associated with objective difficulties. As time goes on, the number of direct witnesses to the events of the Gulf War decreases. and information necessary to establish the fate of missing persons is being lost. It is also indicative that, according to available information, the last discovery in Iraq of the remains of Kuwaiti nationals dates back to 2019. Under these circumstances, Continued substantive cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries and the exchange of archival materials and the use of modern search and identification methods acquire particular importance. Madam President. With the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq on 31 December 2025, an important stage of international support for that country’s post-conflict recovery came to an end. We are convinced that Iraq has fully demonstrated its ability to address the tasks before it on its own, and to build constructive relations with its neighbors on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and good neighborliness. In this context, we positively assess Baghdad's commitment to the final settlement of the remaining issues with Kuwait City. We welcome the joint statement made by the leadership of both countries on 25th of September, expressing their intention to intensify work on resolving outstanding, long-standing problems and to establish a working group for this purpose. We hope that this initiative will provide additional impetus to bilateral interactions and make it possible to achieve concrete practical results. It is our understanding that the provisions of Security Council resolution 2792 are aimed at providing targeted assistance to the parties in resolving the remaining humanitarian issues without substituting their own efforts. It is important to ensure strict observance of the agreed parameters of the mandate, preventing the politicization of the dossier and an increase of international oversight. We are convinced The continued relevance of this mechanism should be determined, first and foremost, by the practical results of its activities, taking into account the review timelines provided for in the resolution. We do not see grounds for an indefinite preservation of external involvement in issues that can and should be resolved directly by the States concerned. We look forward to the continuation of the constructive dialogue between Baghdad and Kuwait City, which will make it possible to finally close and turn over the past and concentrate on developing mutual beneficial cooperation in the interests of the peoples of both countries and strengthening stability throughout the Middle East region. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China.

President, I thank Senior Representative Mary Yamashita for her briefing, and welcome the Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait, as well as the Permanent Representative of Iraq, to this meeting. The issue of Kuwaiti missing persons and property, a legacy from the Gulf War, has remained unresolved for 35 years and continues to affect the emotions of the Kuwaiti people. Properly addressing this historical issue is of great significance for soothing the emotional wounds caused by the war, improving relations between Kuwait and Iraq, and promoting friendly cooperation among countries in the region. Achieving this goal requires not only the joint efforts of the parties concerned, but also the political support of the Security Council. In September last year, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2792, deciding to establish the position of Senior Representative to advance progress in resolving the issue of Kuwaiti missing persons and property. Since assuming this function, Senior Representative Mari Yamashita has maintained close communication with both Kuwait and Iraq. Kuwait, Iraq, and ICRC have made huge efforts in this regard. Last July, a meeting of the Tripartite Commission was convened under the auspices of ICRC, which China welcomes. We hope that Kuwait and Iraq will continue to demonstrate sincerity, patience, and determination, build upon the prior work, and under the principle of mutual respect and friendly consultation, further intensify their efforts and work in the same direction, with a view to creating favorable conditions for substantive progress on the issue. Due to factors such as the extremely long time span and changes in the geographical environment, efforts to address the issue of Kuwaiti missing persons and property face some real challenges. We support greater use of innovative technologies, biological analysis, and forensic identification, among others, to improve the efficiency in locating and identifying Kuwaiti missing persons. We encourage the international community to provide the parties concerned with technical assistance and capacity-building support. We also encourage the UN to continue its good offices, strengthen confidence and mutual trust between Kuwait and Iraq in addressing the issue of missing persons and property, and working together towards a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the issue. As a good friend and good partner of both Kuwait and Iraq, China remains committed to playing a constructive role in promoting a proper settlement of the issue, as well as advancing the improvement of bilateral relations and deepening good neighborly friendship between the two countries. Thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for his statement and now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam President. Let me also thank Senior Representative Yamashita for her briefing, and Denmark welcomes her appointment to this position and thanks her for the work undertaken so far. I also welcome the presence of the representatives of Iraq and Kuwait in this meeting. Madam President, just over one year ago, this Council unanimously adopted resolution 2792, establishing a follow-up mechanism to promote, support, and facilitate efforts towards the repatriation or return of Kuwaiti missing persons and property. This mechanism represents a useful instrument to ensure continuity and sustained UN engagement on this humanitarian issue. We underscore the importance of continued cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait and echo the call for both parties to resolve outstanding issues. Denmark regrets that no progress has been recorded during the reporting period in the search for missing Kuwaiti citizens, third-country nationals, and missing Kuwaiti property, and that 315 people remain unaccounted for. However, we recognize the efforts undertaken by Iraq, Kuwait, and the ICRC to pursue available leads while acknowledging that the scarcity of credible new information remains a key challenge. We urge both countries to maintain political commitment and take concrete measures to strengthen trust and cooperation with the international community. This remains essential to clarify the fate of the missing persons, as well as to make progress on missing Kuwaiti property, including national archives. Madam President, in closing, the relatives of missing persons deserve closure. They deserve certainty about their loved ones. We call on both sides to sustain their commitment and work towards this goal in good faith to resolve these important and long-standing humanitarian issues. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for her statement and now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Thank you, Madam President. We welcome the appointment of Ms. Mari Yamashita, Senior Representative for the implementation of resolution 2792 of 2025 of the Security Council, and we are grateful for her briefing, which helps us to better understand the current situation and the context in which her efforts are unfolding. We recognize the challenges involved in fulfilling her mandate, and we trust that her good offices will help generate the conditions needed to make progress in this file, to clarify the fate of missing persons and to address unresolved questions relating to Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. We extend a cordial greeting to His Excellency Mr. Rabea Salad Al-Adsani, Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait, and to the Permanent Representative of Iraq, who honour us with their participation in this meeting. Madam President, the most recent report of the Secretary-General reflects the challenges that continue to be faced in the fulfilment of this mandate, more than three decades on from the events: the lack of new identifications, the scarcity of information, and the shrinking number of witnesses continue to be significant obstacles. This reality highlights the need to redouble efforts, because the time that has passed does not diminish the urgency of clarifying the facts or of resolving pending issues. Therefore, it is essential not only to persevere in technical efforts, but also to maintain a sustained political commitment and to strengthen mutual confidence. In this context, we consider it to be essential for the Council to continue supporting the efforts of the Senior Representative and promoting cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait. Strengthening mutual confidence The identification of and approaching possible witnesses, as well as keeping the commitments made in the context of the Tripartite Commission, are essential elements that should lead to concrete actions and verifiable results. We also reiterate the importance of reactivating dialogue and cooperation mechanisms relating to missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives, so that this question can receive the attention it deserves. For Panama, clarifying these events is not only an unresolved question between two states; it is also a humanitarian responsibility to the families that have been waiting for answers for decades. We are convinced that sustained cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait, with the support of the United Nations, will contribute not only to addressing these unresolved questions, but also to strengthening relations between both countries and to truth and responsibility, closing a painful chapter in their history. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Panama for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Madam President, at the outset, we thank the Secretary General for his letter dated October 1st, 2026. and Ms. Mari Yamashita, Senior Representative of the Secretary General for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2792. We thank her for her valuable briefing and her diligent efforts. We appreciate her visits to the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq, as well as her meetings with officials in both countries. which contributes to promoting joint efforts to address outstanding issues between the two nations. I also welcome the participation of His Excellency Mr. Atsani, Assistant Foreign Minister for Prisoners of War and Missing Affairs in Kuwait, and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq in today's session. Madam President, We stress the importance of Resolution 2792, adopted unanimously by the Security Council on September 17, 2025. It established a mechanism to follow up on missing Kuwaiti nationals and nationals of third countries, as well as Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, following the conclusion of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, UNAMI. We value the mechanism for follow-up and the submission of periodic reports to the Security Council, because this ensures sustained international attention to these humanitarian issues and monitors the progress made in addressing them. Madam President, The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its steadfast support for the sisterly state of Kuwait in line with the unified Gulf position, as articulated in the final statement of the 46th Gulf Summit hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in December 2025. It welcomed the adoption of resolution 2792 and called upon the Government of Iraq to make progress in this regard and make maximum efforts to reach a final resolution to these humanitarian files. In this context, we welcome the recent understandings between the sisterly state of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq regarding the formation of a joint working group to examine outstanding bilateral issues and develop a roadmap for addressing them. This is a positive step to towards fostering dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. We stress the need for these understandings to contribute to the ongoing efforts to address the file of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons, nationals of third countries, and Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, while upholding the pivotal role of the relevant United Nations and international mechanisms. We further stress the need for the Security Council to continue monitoring these matters in line with resolution 2792 until a final resolution is reached. We value the pivotal role of the Tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittee, chaired by the ICRC. In searching for the remains of missing persons, we encourage the use of modern technologies in search and identification operations to uncover their fate. As we appreciate these efforts, The Secretary-General’s letter noted that no new identifications of missing persons were made during the reporting period. This underscores the urgent need to intensify efforts and accelerate work to determine their fate. This is in line with the humanitarian principles stressed by resolution 2474 on persons missing in armed conflict, especially the right of their families to know the fate of their loved ones. Regarding Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, the Kingdom of Bahrain acknowledges the steps taken towards the return of certain assets and archival materials. We emphasize the need for intensifying efforts, strengthening cooperation with relevant UN mechanisms, providing pertinent information and and taking practical, concrete steps to ensure the full recovery of the remaining Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives, in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions. In conclusion, Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirms its full solidarity with the State of Kuwait and its support for efforts to address these humanitarian issues. We also value the cooperation of the Republic of Iraq and the efforts it has made in this regard. We look forward to continuing constructive cooperation between the two sisterly nations, leading to a final resolution to these matters, thereby strengthening fraternal ties, mutual trust, and good neighborliness, while promoting security and stability in the region. Thank you, Madam President.

for her briefing, and we welcome her appointment, supporting efforts to locate and return missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and recover missing Kuwaiti property. And we commend her swift assumption of duties and early engagement with stakeholders, and wish her every success in this mandate. We also welcome the participation of the Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait for Prisoners and Missing Persons, His Excellency Mr. Rabia Saad Al-Adsani, and the Permanent Representative of Iraq in today's meeting. Latvia firmly supports the follow-up mechanism for the repatriation or return of Kuwaiti missing persons and property established with Security Council resolution 2792. This mechanism reinforces the Council's resolve to see this important humanitarian file through to resolution. We welcome the reaffirmed commitment of Iraq and Kuwait at the highest level to respect each other's sovereignty and advance the full implementation of resolution 2792. We commend their continued engagement in the tripartite commission, chaired by the ICRC. We recognize the valuable work and progress achieved throughout the Commission’s long-standing efforts. While no new identifications of missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals were made during the reporting period, and 315 individuals remain unaccounted for, we welcome the ongoing efforts, such as the gathering and analysis of information, development of digital information management and analytical tools, sharing of genetic profiles and conduct of recovery and forensic examinations. At the same time, we take note of the growing challenges, as also highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report. First-hand witnesses are becoming fewer, credible new leads are harder to find, and potential search sites have changed considerably. These obstacles call for renewed determination and the effective use of modern analytical, forensic, and digital instruments. The same determination is needed to address missing Kuwaiti property and the national archives. We encourage Iraq and Kuwait to apply that spirit to the swift reactivation of the Joint Committee on Property and Archives. Agreeing on a documented inventory process would be a practical starting point for restoring momentum. To conclude, Madam President, Determining the fate and whereabouts of the missing is a humanitarian responsibility that must be pursued in accordance with international humanitarian law. Behind every unresolved case is a family still waiting for answers. Their needs must remain at the heart of our efforts. Latvia believes that continued engagement between Iraq and Kuwait is key to resolving these long-standing issues. In order to expect tangible results, it is essential to preserve the progress in this file, ensure the commitments are honoured in practice, and the engagement remains consistent. We also encourage the Senior Representative to build on her early engagement to strengthen confidence between Iraq and Kuwait, promote practical cooperation on the humanitarian files within her mandate, and help bring these unresolved issues to a definitive close. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of France.

Madam President, I would like to thank the Senior Representative of the Secretary General, Maria Mashita, for her briefing. I would like to welcome the presence of Assistant Foreign Minister of Kuwait and the Permanent Representative of Iraq in our meeting today, and I will raise three points. First of all, France welcomes the commitment undertaken by Iraq and Kuwait on the issue of missing persons and property. Since the appointment of the Senior Representative last March pursuant to resolution 2792, several initiatives deserve to be pointed out here. Iraq has undertaken to grant the ICRC access two key figures of the former regime who are currently detained. Baghdad has set up a commission to examine the archives that have been transmitted to it and has launched, together with ICRC, an appeal for witnesses. We hope that these important commitments, which have long been on the agenda of the Tripartite Commission, will be translated into progress on the ground, and we welcome the essential role played by the ICRC and the Tripartite Commission here. These efforts must now be translated into concrete results. More than three decades after the events, the search now is facing real difficulties and no new identification has been recorded. 315 Kuwaitis and third country nationals remain missing. Time's running out. Witnesses are becoming increasingly rare. As the Secretary-General emphasizes in his letter, political commitment at the highest level remains crucial. We encourage Iraq to continue its efforts to obtain the cooperation of the identified witnesses, and for both countries to honor the commitments undertaken within the tripartite mission and to continue their work so as to find the missing persons and property and national archives. Beyond this humanitarian issue, France encourages Iraq and Kuwait to continue to normalize their relationship, which is essential for regional stability. And that is the meaning of France's commitment to these two countries, as evidenced by welcoming the visit to Paris of the Iraqi Prime Minister last September and the visit of the President of the Republic to Kuwait last week. Madam President, finally, France welcomes the political progress made by Iraq. The Parliament's approval on 15 October of the appointment of the members of the government, which were lacking, including the ministers of the interior and defense, consolidates Iraqi institutions. It contributes to Iraq's progress in its sovereignty agenda, and to being able to face the challenges it faces, particularly economic ones, which are linked to the disruptions in the region and the Strait of Hormuz. In a volatile regional context, Iraq must be protected from the crises that are sweeping the region. We welcome the efforts of its government to prevent the country from being dragged into it and call on all regional actors to respect the sovereignty of Iraq and Kuwait. Iraqi territory must not be used as a base for attacks on its neighbors, and similarly, attacks on Iraqi territory and the Kuwaiti territory must stop. And this is why the state's monopoly on arms is essential. Madam President, France supports the Prime Minister's efforts in this regard, aimed at strengthening the country's sovereignty and the rule of law. We also remain committed to continuing the fight against terrorism alongside Iraq, while respecting its sovereignty. I thank you.

I thank the representative of France for his statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Greece. I wish to thank the Senior Representative, Ms. Yamashita, for her briefing. I welcome the presence at this meeting of His Excellency Mr. Radea Shad Alajani, Assistant Foreign Minister for Prisoners of War and Missing Affairs, and of the Permanent Representative of Iraq. Colleagues, More than three decades after the events concerned, the humanitarian imperative remains unchanged. The fate of every missing person must be clarified and their families deserve answers. It is in this period that Greece supported the adoption of Resolution 2792, recognizing the importance of sustained international engagement in addressing this longstanding humanitarian issue. As this is the first briefing of the Security Council on this issue since the adoption of the resolution, we welcome the continued engagement of Iraq and Kuwait, with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross. We underscore the importance of translating the commitments reflected in the resolution into tangible progress with the Senior Representative, the tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittee playing an essential role in advancing cooperation and building confidence. Regrettably, no new identifications were made during the reporting period, and 315 Kuwaiti and third-country nationals remain unaccounted for. This underscores the urgency of intensifying efforts. With the passage of time, the pool of witnesses with firsthand knowledge continues to shrink, while changing conditions at sites of interest further complicate recovery efforts. These challenges make sustained political commitment, mutual trust, and the systematic pursuit of all available leads more critical than ever. Greece encourages efforts to identify and engage individuals who may possess relevant information and to ensure that potential leads are followed up in a timely and systematic manner. At the same time, it is essential that witnesses feel safe to come forward and that their security is duly protected. We further recall the training workshop for Iraqi and Kuwaiti experts and decision-makers hosted in Nicosia in 2024 by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus. This initiative illustrates how the exchange of expertise and technical know-how can contribute to strengthening national capacities and advancing humanitarian objectives. Turning to the issue of missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives, we regret the continued lack of progress. We encourage Iraq and Kuwait to reactivate their joint committee and restore this important channel for dialogue and practical cooperation. Ultimately, colleagues, the success of our collective efforts will be measured by the answers we are able to provide to the families who have waited far too long. Greece calls on all parties to maintain their commitment, deepen their cooperation, and pursue every credible lead. The adoption of resolution 2792 provided renewed impetus. It is now essential that this momentum translates into tangible results. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Abeer Asad Al Ajani, Assistant Foreign Minister for Prisoners of War and Missing Affairs of Kuwait.

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I thank you, and allow me, first of all, to congratulate you, Madam President, on your enlightened leadership of the Council in this month of October. We would like to thank your country for the efforts that you have made within the Council. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you, Madam President. Thank you for convening this important meeting. I would also like to thank Ms. Mari Yamashita, the Senior Representative of the Secretary General for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2792 of 2025. I thank her for her briefing and for her efforts since assuming her duties. We reaffirm our full support for her mandate and our commitment to cooperating with her, with the Sisterly Republic of Iraq, and with the ICRC in order to honour remaining obligations and to determine the fate of missing prisoners and missing persons, Kuwaitis and third country prisoners and missing persons, and recovering Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. Madam President, the State of Kuwait places great importance on its relations with the Sicily Republic of Iraq, and we are keen to cooperate with Iraq on the basis of mutual respect, good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs. It is time to conclude the We look forward to completing the files concerning prisoners and missing persons and Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. This is an essential step towards strengthening trust between our two countries and closing one of the main outstanding issues that has been the case for more than three decades. I would like to express my full appreciation for the pivotal role played by the Security Council in previous decades. to follow up on these humanitarian files, beginning with those resolutions that established obligations regarding the clarification of the fate of missing persons and the return of property, as well as resolution 2792, which was unanimously adopted by the Security Council and which confirmed United Nations continued follow-up after the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. We hope that this interest and commitment will continue to support the efforts of the Senior Representative. Madam President, this meeting comes following the issuance of the Secretary General's first report on 1 October 2026, which confirms no progress having been made. and that 315 persons remain missing, including 308 persons listed by the State of Kuwait. In light of our direct participation in the context of the Tripartite Commission and its technical subcommittee, it seems to us that the challenge is not limited to the scarcity of new information, particularly after more than 35 years, but also failure to follow up on this information and testimony that has already been received, as well as delays. in implementing commitments that were agreed upon several years ago. We have received Iraqi assurances to facilitate interviews with witnesses and former officials believed to have important information. However, These commitments have not been implemented, and by way of an example, the ICRC was not able to interview nine soldiers of the former regime that are referred to in the report. Those interviews have yet to take place. An example that illustrates this dangerous situation is the case of a former official who served as director of security for Kuwait. This official would have known some security information. While the Iraqi party facilitated or accepted the holding of that interview, the ICRC was not able to conduct that interview because the person concerned was sentenced to death in February 2026, even while the Technical Subcommittee was about to have a meeting. As a result, an opportunity to determine whether this person had information to determine the fate of missing persons was not seized upon. This illustrates that delays in interviewing a known witness are not merely procedural delays; they are a situation that could lead to the loss of precious information once and for all. That is why it is essential that interviews be carried out and not simply limit ourselves to preliminary agreements that may lose their value over time. Administrative obstacles must also be overcome in order to demonstrate good faith and guarantee access to information that could change the course of this file. Madam President, the Al-Khameesiyah site remains one of the most important lines of inquiry. It is urgent. Testimony, documents, and information that has been gathered, analysed, and cross-checked over many years indicates that there may be the remains of between 150 and 180 missing Kuwaitis at several burial sites. In this regard, in this context, an Iraqi witness provided documented testimony to the Technical Sub-Committee regarding information concerning burial sites, coordinates, and the names of persons both inside and outside Iraq who may have additional information. This witness was not outside the reach of the Iraqi authorities because they were an advisor in the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister. The witness contacted several persons living outside Iraq in order to obtain information concerning the fate of missing persons. However, that undertaking was not followed up upon for several years as a result of certain requests that he submitted to the Iraqi government. that were not responded to. Nevertheless, there was precise factual information in that testimony. We therefore underscore that the lack of cooperation by a known witness who until recently occupied an official position within the government does not absolve the Iraqi authorities of their responsibility to follow up on his statement and to verify the information provided, nor does it relieve them from their other commitments. The Kuwaiti authorities The competent Kuwaiti authorities prepared a detailed analytical assessment together with the ICRC, using modern technology and available information. And this information was submitted to the Technical Subcommittee. The ICRC, for its part, continues to develop analytical tools and carry out research at priority sites. In this regard, we welcome the first report, which explicitly mentions the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to identify and make contact with witnesses and to obtain information, and the need to take serious and tangible steps by the Iraqis to honour outstanding obligations. We have recently witnessed another example of operational delays, operational difficulties. A joint technical assessment of a potential site in Qamishli was carried out with the participation of the Iraqi side and the ICRC. It had been expected that the field activities would continue, but the Iraqi side requested further studies be carried out, even though its technical team have participated in site inspections in September 2026. We fully understand the need to satisfy safety requirements and to obtain authorisations. However, those requirements should lead to concrete measures rather than the indefinite suspension of work. Some procedures require approval at a level, at a higher level of government, and that makes their intervention essential in order to allow technical teams to complete their tasks. Madam President, the State of Kuwait, in cooperation with the ICRC, has provided information, documents, satellite imagery, and technical assessments that are needed to support search operations. One million dollars is contributed each year to the ICRC to support its work in this area, and we are ready to provide any additional assistance required by the competent Iraqi authorities. It is important to distinguish between excavation and search operations conducted specifically as part of the Missing Kuwaiti Search Plan from activities carried out by the Iraqi authorities for other purposes. We appreciate these efforts, and we are fully prepared to carry out the necessary verifications. However, this does not automatically mean that the excavations were carried out in the context of this file. and so it should not automatically be counted as tangible, concrete progress. True progress lies in carrying out this work within the specific framework of this file and the plan that was examined and approved within the Committee. Madam President, with regard to the file of missing Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives, the State of Kuwait expresses its concern over the lack of significant progress, and this was confirmed in the report of the Secretary-General. Property of great value and sovereign documents remain missing. Today, the Iraqi Government must establish a clear mechanism and a precise timeline to ensure that the search for this property and documents is carried out. notably by tracing their movements during the occupation, identifying entities and individuals responsible for holding them or transferring them, and where they may still be found. The search cannot be limited to administrative interactions between the different institutions. We need methodical work involving several Iraqi entities, including entities that possess the necessary information. In this context, We would like to recall that the United States has already, on two occasions, returned archives of the former Iraqi regime to Iraq, one of them last year in digital form. This is an opportunity to make use of modern search tools, including artificial intelligence technologies, to examine these archives to determine whether they contain names, records, and any other information that would make it possible to trace Kuwaiti property or identify the entities that handled that property or any other information related to this file. We are fully ready to cooperate and to provide all necessary facilitation to receive any property that may be found. However, primary responsibility for searching for Kuwaiti property taken during the invasion, identifying where it is and returning it, rests with the Government of Iraq in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. The persistence of these difficulties requires that United Nations follow-up go from just recording activities to measuring implementation and results. In the context of the Technical Subcommittee, we presented a model of 13 indicators to measure the situation, and those indicators should be used while also focusing on the priorities for the period ahead. Future reports should clearly indicate those commitments and the reasons for delays and encourage those responsible to continue this work, whether in Kuwait or Iraq. This question is of particular importance, particularly in light of the review in June 2028, which is based on four thematic reports within the mandate of the Senior Representative, rather than the five initially provided for in resolution 27/92, due to the absence of the thematic report that should have been presented in March, and this is a period that coincides with the appointment of Ms. Yamashita. We hope to see an intensification of this work in order to guarantee tangible progress before the review. For that reason, we reaffirm that the added value of the mandate of the Senior Representative lies in presenting an independent, objective assessment rather than simply reiterating the positions of parties or the commitments that have been already made. All parties, including the State of Kuwait, must apply these objective criteria whilst also taking into account the different nature of responsibilities and obligations. In recent years, the State of Kuwait has provided all information, documents, and satellite imagery that was at its disposal, and we have supported technical and technological efforts and capacity building. We will continue to do everything possible to accelerate search operations and to allow the competent Iraqi authorities to fulfil their obligations. The operational priority for the coming phase is clear: to finalise interviews with known witnesses, to continue to follow up on information related to the Khameisiya site and other sites, to issue the necessary authorizations for field activities, to make use of the available archives, to intensify efforts to find missing Kuwaiti property, notably the national archives, through a sincere, real political will to successfully close this file. The State of Kuwait reiterates its full support for the mandate of Ms. Yamashita, and we look forward to her being able to overcome the existing obstacles. The primary aim of the State of Kuwait has never been to prolong these files or to keep them open. delay them being closed, but rather to close them definitively as quickly as possible by determining the identity of all Kuwaiti and third country missing persons and the recovery of Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives. Achieving this goal requires existing commitments to be turned into concrete actions in order to achieve tangible results, to strengthen relations of good neighborliness and cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the sisterly Republic of Iraq. To conclude, before being an obligation arising from Security Council resolutions, this file, above all, is a humanitarian question that affects families that are waiting for news of their loved ones. Mothers and fathers have passed away without knowing what happened to their children. Today, families continue to live in the hope of at long last learning the truth. The very least that we owe to them is to seize every opportunity to shed light on the fate of their loved ones. These families have the right to know the truth. Thank you very much, Madam President.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Alazani for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Iraq.

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, Madam President, Excellencies, members of the Security Council, I would like to thank you for holding this session. I would also like to thank Ms. Mary Yamashita, the Senior Representative of the Secretary General for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2792 of 2025, for her briefing and for her efforts to implement her mandate. My delegation takes note of the letter of the Secretary-General in this regard, and we reaffirm the full commitment of the Republic of Iraq to implement its obligations and to continue to cooperate constructively with the State of Kuwait because we believe in the humanitarian nature of this file and in the right of the families of all missing persons to discover the fate of their loved ones. Madam President, the Iraqi Government attaches great importance to the file of missing Iraqi and Kuwaiti nationals. relevant Iraqi entities, with the support and direct follow-up from His Excellency the Prime Minister, continued to take the necessary field, technical, and legal measures in cooperation with the State of Kuwait and the ICRC. Because we believe in the right of the families of all missing persons to uncover the fate of their loved ones, Iraq expresses its support to the efforts of the Senior Representative of the Secretary General and its willingness to continue to cooperate with her and facilitate her functions to enhance the complementarity between the role of the United Nations and the current tripartite mechanism. Madam President, the efforts made by Iraq over years of serious work on this file have led to tangible results. Among around 602 missing Kuwaiti nationals, we have identified and repatriated to the Kuwaiti side the remains of 294 Kuwaiti nationals. As for information related to potential witnesses, Iraq continues its efforts in coordination with the ICRC and the Tripartite Mechanism to follow up on and verify this information while taking into account the protection of witnesses and the confidentiality of information to contribute to reaching credible data that could contribute to clarifying the fate of missing persons. As part of our search efforts, we identified a new area in Al-Khamisiyah pursuant to the initial analysis of aerial photography and the results of the field survey. A joint technical team is scheduled to commence excavation work tomorrow on the 27th of October 2026. The Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the ICRC, has launched an updated strategy for communication and humanitarian calls to reach new witnesses and new information about potential burial sites. We have started implementation on the ground, and we are working on preparing an integrated executive plan for 2027. Iraq continues to facilitate individual interviews with officials of the former regime, in coordination with the ICRC, to gather relevant information to support efforts to clarify the fate of missing persons. Madam President. Iraq takes note that no new identification cases took place during the reporting period pursuant to the letter of the Secretary General. However, this does not mean that efforts were halted. It simply shows the magnitude of the challenges as over three decades have passed since these events took place, and with a diminishing pool of witnesses and information, in addition to changes in the environment and geological changes, and human activities that affected these search sites. In this regard, we would like to clarify the field difficulties confronting Iraqi institutions today to find the remains of missing persons following one decade. However, the inability to reach new results, despite ongoing search and cooperation, does not mean withholding information or negligence in providing information. Fairness requires an acknowledgment of the cooperation that the Iraqi government has provided and continues to provide in this file. President, international experiences in searching for the remains of missing persons and identifying their identity could go on for decades, even with countries that possess advanced institutional and scientific capability, as the fate of many missing persons from past wars and conflicts continues to be unknown to this day. Therefore, as part of our preparation for the 2028 review, Iraq calls for an agreed-upon path that would allow a transition to addressing the remaining of this file through the three tripartite channels and the tripartite commission and its technical subcommittee, while continuing to provide the necessary support when needed. Madam President, when it comes to the return of missing Kuwaiti property, Iraq continues its effort to return the property and documents found, including the return of around 200,000 books to the Kuwaiti National Library in 2019, and the surrender of 738 boxes of material to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information, in addition to historical artifacts in 2022, and the return of 400 additional boxes that contains books and microfilm recordings in the end of 2025. In this regard, Iraq remains continues to be willing to resume the meetings of the joint Iraqi and Kuwaiti committee on missing property, including the national archive, to agree on a program of work to intensify the efforts of search and recovery, and to develop joint technical follow-up mechanisms. Iraq also renews its request from the Kuwaiti side to provide the Commission with detailed inventories of information and description about the missing material, so that we can identify the missing material. In conclusion, Iraq remains committed to this file because we are morally and humanitarianly convinced that the families of the missing persons have the right to determine the fate of their loved ones, because we need to address this painful humanitarian legacy. This would be an important step to strengthen mutual trust and mutual respect with the State of Kuwait to serve the aspirations of our people for a more safe future. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Iraq for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you very much.