Equipo Nizkor - UNSC S/2016/267 - Letter from Iraq regarding the use of chemical weapons by terrorists against the village of Taza.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2016/267 |*|

Distr.: General
24 March 2016
Original: English

Letter dated 21 March 2016 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Upon the instructions from my Government, I have the honour to convey herewith a copy of the letter dated 20 March 2016 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Ibrahim Al-Eshaiker Al-Jaafari, regarding the use of chemical weapons by the Da'esh terrorist and criminal group against innocent civilians in the village of Taza in the Kirkuk province of northern Iraq, on 8 March 2016 (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Mohammed Sahib Mejid Marzooq
Chargé d'affaires a.i.

Annex to the letter dated 21 March 2016 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

[Original: Arabic]

I should like to draw attention to the statement (see enclosure) issued by the Government of the Republic of Iraq regarding the use of chemical weapons by terrorist gangs (the Da'esh terrorist entity) against innocent civilians in Iraq. On 8 March 2016, dozens of civilians were injured when terrorists used such weapons in the village of Tazah, which is located in Kirkuk governorate in northern Iraq.

Iraq underscores that terrorism now threatens the entire world; no social group or institution is immune to the savagery of terrorism, which has no connection whatsoever with human customs, religions or principles. Indeed, Iraq is on the front lines of the battle against international terrorism. However, in this incident, the terrorists attacked innocent civilians far away from the combat zones. This attack, the victims of which were innocent civilian men, women and children, can only be considered a crime against humanity.

I should also like to assure you, Sir, that the Government of Iraq is highly desirous of fulfilling its commitments pursuant to all customary laws, conventions and agreements, as well as the resolutions of the Security Council that prohibit the use, possession, transport and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. In view of its commitment to implementing the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, on 14 March 2016, the Government informed the Technical Secretariat of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is the relevant agency, in The Hague of this savage attack.

I should be grateful if the present letter could be issued as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ibrahim al-Jaafari
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq

Enclosure

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to give the utmost attention to the crime that was committed in Tazah

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq calls on the relevant international organizations and the international community to give the utmost attention to the grave developments in Tazah, namely, the use of chemical weapons (mustard gas) by the terrorist organization Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. This use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians is a crime against humanity. In response, the Ministry launched intensive diplomatic efforts several days ago. The Minister for Foreign Affairs briefed the ambassadors of Arab and European States of this grave crime, while the Ministry has informed the United Nations and the Security Council, as well as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as it is the relevant technical agency.

Notes:

* Reissued for technical reasons on 7 April 2016. [Back]

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24Mar16

Letter from Iraq regarding the use of chemical weapons by terrorists against the village of Taza