The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted three resolutions to end sanctions imposed against Iraq during the Saddam Hussein era.
One ends the oil-for-food program, and another lifts restrictions that prohibited Iraq from pursuing a civilian nuclear program. A third ends the Iraqi Development Fund as of June 30.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden chaired the high-level meeting and praised Iraq's progress toward democracy. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also attended.
"The adoption of these important resolutions marks the beginning of the end of the sanctions regime and restrictions on Iraq's sovereignty, independence and recovery," the Iraqi foreign minister said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the development a "milestone."
"Its people have known tremendous hardship," he said. "They continue to struggle with insecurity and appalling violence. They lack jobs and basic services. But today we recognize how far the country has come in key aspects of its journey to normalize its status in the community of nations."
WASHINGTON, December 15 (RIA Novosti)
