Iraq has been subject to numerous “Chapter VII” mandates from the United Nations Security Council since the days of Saddam Hussein. This covers a variety of issues that range from border disputes, to reparations for the first Gulf War, and to issues concerning oil revenues.
In the last Congress, Delahunt’s Subcommittee held extensive hearings on the US-Iraq bilateral agreement negotiated -- and signed in late 2008 -- between the Bush Administration and the Iraqi government. Under the agreement, the United States is obligated to help Iraq in its efforts to terminate these mandates. The agreement is significant for U.S. troops in Iraq because the bilateral agreement governs the legal status of American forces in Iraq and will be put to a national referendum by Iraqi voters in January 2010. If the agreement is rejected by Iraqi voters, it could have prfouund consequences for US forces in Iraq.
Thursday’s hearing will explore what, if any progress has been made on ending these mandates, what obstacles remain in the UN Security Council and elsewhere, and what the potential impacts would be if the Mandates were not terminated.
DATE: Thursday, September 17, 2009
TIME: 10:00 A.M.
LOCATION: Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building
SUBJECT: United Nations Chapter VII Mandates and the US-Iraq Bilateral Agreement
WITNESSES:
Kenneth Katzman, Ph.D.
Specialist in Middle East Affairs
Congressional Research Service
Michael J. Matheson, Esq.
Visiting Research Professor of Law
The George Washington University Law School
Followed by a briefing from
His Excellency Ayad Allawi
Member
The Council of Representatives
Republic of Iraq
His Excellency Saleh al Mutlaq
Member
The Council of Representatives
Republic of Iraq
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