On Mar 31, 2007, at 12:23 PM, Jordan Hayes wrote:
> Doug writes:
>
>>> What the the hell business does the Royal Navy have fiddle-farting
>>> around in Iranian/Iraqi waters?
>>
>> Either spying, or trying to provoke an incident, no?
>
> Er, they are there under a UN mandate, UNSCR 1723.
>
> http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/
> ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1032786073584
Eh?
> Q: What does UNSCR 1723 mean for the UN's role in Iraq?
> A: UNSCR 1723 was adopted in November 2006 and expires on the 31
> December 2007. The resolution continues the details set out in
> UNSCR 1546 and re-affirmed in 1637. It states that the UN should
> continue to play a leading role in assisting the Iraqi people and
> government with further economic and political development, as well
> as contribute to the co-ordination and delivery of traditional UN
> roles, e.g. in humanitarian co-ordination and protecting human
> rights. The resolution includes the same guarantees as set out in
> UNSCR 1546 including a commitment on the part of the UN Security
> Council to review these provisions no later than 15 June 2007. We
> are working with the UN, the US and other international partners to
> ensure the safety of UN staff deployed to Iraq to fulfil this
> mandate. The UK has previously provided £3 mn to the UN to help
> them return to Iraq and fulfil their mandate.
What does that have with patrolling in disputed waters?
Doug