27 May 2003
Vieira de Mello Named to Head U.N. Operations in Iraq
(Says establishment of human rights a priority) (900) Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- Introducing U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello as the head of U.N. operations in Iraq, Secretary General Kofi Annan said May 27 that United Nations responsibilities "are going to demand a lot from us and from the international community." The secretary general said that the decision to name the sitting high commissioner as his special representative in Iraq was a difficult one, particularly with the high priority he places on human rights. But the choice "reflects the important challenge that we need to take on," he said. "Last week the Security Council came together in resolution 1483 to chart the way forward for post-conflict Iraq," Annan said. "The council has called on the United Nations to assist the Iraqi people in coordination with the (coalition) authority in a wide range of areas, including humanitarian relief, reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation, legal and judicial reforms, human rights and return of refugees, and also to assist with civilian police." Appearing at a press conference with the secretary general, Vieira de Mello said, "the people of Iraq, as we know only too well, have suffered and have suffered enough. It is time that we all -- the Iraqis first, the coalition authority, and the United Nations -- come together to ensure that this suffering comes to an end and the Iraqi people take their destiny into their own hands, as the Security Council resolution calls for, as quickly as possible. We must not fail." "It will not come to you as a surprise ... that I consider the development of a culture of human rights in Iraq as fundamental to stability and true peace in that country," he said. "Respect for human rights is the only solid foundation for durable peace and for development. I shall place particular importance ... on the need to insure women's rights and their full participation in the consultative process -- at least the political one." Vieira de Mello said he expects to arrive in Baghdad June 2 and "hit the ground running" with a "relatively small team" to augment the already sizeable U.N. humanitarian presence in the country. His team will be reinforced in successive waves, but the U.N. has not determined as yet how large the special representative's office will need to be. A former Brazilian diplomat, Vieira de Mello has worked with the United Nations for over 30 years. Before becoming High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2002, he was the U.N. transitional administrator in East Timor, guiding that former territory to independence. He was also special representative in Kosovo for an initial period of two months and was the coordinator of humanitarian operations at U.N. headquarters. He also has field experience in Bangladesh, Sudan, Cyprus, Mozambique, Peru and Lebanon. Vieira de Mello's appointment is for four months. The secretary general then will name a successor. The new U.N. special envoy said that his first priority will be to establish contacts with Iraqi leaders, representatives of the media, and civil society. "Iraqi society is rich and that richness has been suppressed brutally for the last 24 years. But they are there or are returning and they are my priority," Vieira de Mello said. The second priority will be to establish "a good working relationship with the coalition authority," he said. The third priority will be to visit all the provinces because "Iraq is not limited to Baghdad and it is important I pay attention to what Iraqis in all 18 provinces actually feel and aspire to in terms of their future." Another priority is law and order, Vieira de Mello said. "Security has not been completely restored and it is impossible to deal with the rest and to build what we want to build -- democratic institutions and a real culture of human rights and political processes ... without security," he said. The secretary general pointed out that resolution 1483 gave the United Nations a broad mandate and provided a "unique situation" for the world organization. For the first time the United Nations is working side-by-side, on the ground with an occupying power to help the population in the country. "There are certain things that we will have to work out on the ground," Annan said. "We have to define and work out our relationship with the coalition authority or occupying power and also our relationship with occupied Iraq." "Some activities are very clear," the secretary general said. "The humanitarian mandate is very clear: we have direct responsibility for it ... In other areas we have to work in partnership with the coalition and Iraqi civil society. These relationships have to be worked out on the ground, not here." Annan acknowledged the deep divisions in the Security Council before the war, but he said that with the new resolution "the council has given us a solid and legal basis for our operations in Iraq and at this stage all the council members are focused on what they can do to help Iraq and the Iraqi people. That should be our focus and our emphasis." "If we pursue our action on that basis, we will be able to make a difference," the secretary general said. (The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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