Military

SHAPE News Morning Update

12 August 2003

IRAQ

• Washington is pushing for a Security Council vote this week on a draft resolution authorizing the UN assistance mission in Iraq and endorsing Baghdad’s new Governing Council, diplomats said on Monday. A vote is expected by midweek and could come as early as Tuesday, the diplomats added. (Reuters 112253 GMT Aug 03)
  
  
• Egypt said on Monday that Arab countries could not recognise the legitimacy of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council in Iraq, Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. Speaking after a meeting with the Saudi and Syrian foreign ministers, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said: “It is not possible to recognise the legitimacy of the current governing council in Iraq.” Foreign Minister Maher also said Arab states were ready to meet members of the council just as they were ready to meet members of any Iraqi political group. After Monday’s meeting, he said the issue had not been discussed between the three ministers because last week’s meeting at the Arab League had already drawn up a position. (Reuters 112224 GMT Aug 03)

BALKANS

• The Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro decided on Monday that its army could take part in UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions around the world, a press release carried by Beta news agency said. The release said the decision was based on their resolve to support international peace and security. It added that it expected a positive reaction from the international community, and especially from the European Union and NATO. (Reuters 112100 GMT Aug 03)

OTHER NEWS

• Troops from a Central Asian security group led by China and Russia have begun their second set of joint military exercises in China’s desert northwest. The exercises began Monday in Xinjiang, the predominantly Muslim Chinese region that borders Central Asia, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported. The exercises were held by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was set up to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. (AP 120140 Aug 03)
  
  
• The commander of the Marine force off Liberia’s coast is expected to take a group of aides ashore on Tuesday to get preparations under way to reopen the port of the capital, Monrovia, and start humanitarian aid flowing. In announcing the plan, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he does not expect a large commitment of U.S. forces in Liberia should a cease-fire remain in place. (AP 112245 Aug 03)