Exclusive: Iraq’s FM appeals to U.N. in letter

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, appealed for urgent support and recognition of the growing threat of the insurgency in his country.

The four-page letter was obtained exclusively by Al Arabiya News Channel’s New York Bureau Chief Talal al-Haj and shows Baghdad’s increasing concerns about the insurgency.

In it, Zebari stressed that Iraq faces dangerous threats by several international terrorist organizations and hence is seeking the support of the international community and world powers.

Zebari repeatedly emphasizes the urgency of the Iraqi crisis, and the need for support from the U.N., its member states and the international community, particularly in the Western border region of Iraq, an area the official said had become a magnet for terrorism from around the world.

Specific requests

The letter specifies the kind of assistance and support the Baghdad government is seeking from the international organization, namely special military training, advanced technology and weapons necessary in order to prevent insurgents from using bases to launch attacks.

It also appeals to the secretary general and member states to halt all financial and media facilities supporting advances by ISIS militants.

According to the letter, the assistance requested by Iraq is in accordance with U.N. Security Council resolution 770, which gives Iraq the right to directly seek help from the U.N. as it sees fit, and abides by multilateral agreements between the involved parties.

Zebari claimed mass killings – carried out by ISIS and Al-Qaeda affiliates – in Iraq and other countries in the region, pose an international threat and requires a collective stand from the international community and member states of the United Nations.

Throughout the letter, Iraq did not request the implementation of any resolutions under Chapter VII which gives member states the right to use military force.