22 July 2003
Iraqi Governing Council Members Address U.N. for First Time
U.N. says governing council deserves international support
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Despite continuing lack of services, hardship and frustration, Iraqis are enjoying the freedoms that have been denied them for decades, a delegation from the Iraqi Governing Council told the U.N. Security Council July 22.
"Our homeland has rid itself of the oppressive tyrant regime that oppressed our people for three decades," said Adnan Pachachi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council and president of the Iraqi Independent Democrats, who addressed the council on behalf of the Iraqi delegation.
"The Iraqi population will never return to a society of fear and injustice," Pachachi said. "Now an Iraqi citizen can express his views and air, articulate, his aspirations and freedom."
Pachachi highlighted areas which the governing council will work on: appointing ministers and re-opening embassies abroad; reform the educational system; rebuild the police force in order to ensure stability; repeal the repressive laws of the Saddam Hussein regime and reform the judicial system; establish special tribunals to bring members of the former regime to trial; and find jobs for the former soldiers, police, teachers, and health workers.
Most importantly, he said, the governing council will appoint a committee to begin work on the constitutional process, which will include a constitutional congress and eventually lead to elections.
Other members of the Iraqi delegation were Ahmad Chalabi, head of the Iraqi National Congress, and Akila al-Hashimi, a former Ministry of Foreign Affairs official.
The three representatives of the new 25-member Iraqi Governing Council, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and U.N. Special Envoy for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello met with the Security Council to discuss the enormous challenges facing Iraq and how the United Nations and the international community can assist.
The delegation's participation in the meeting "is considered by the Iraqi people as a clear and express recognition of the sovereignty of Iraq," Pachachi said.
The session followed the release of the secretary general's 23-page report on an initial program for the U.N. in Iraq.
The secretary general has proposed a 300-person "U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq" (UNAMI) that would oversee delivering humanitarian assistance; help with the political process; implement along with the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) rehabilitation of the courts and support a Judicial Training Center; establish an Iraqi media center; phase out the oil-for-food program by November 21, 2003; help assess economic reconstruction and development projects; and help the Iraqi interim administration rejoin the international community.
"Our collective goal remains an early end to the military occupation through the formation of an internationally recognized, representative government," the secretary general said. "It is vital that the Iraqi people should be able to see a clear timetable with a specific sequence of events leading to the full restoration of sovereignty as soon as possible."
In his remarks to the council, Special Envoy Vieira de Mello said that the governing council is "broadly representative of the various constituencies in Iraq" and deserves the support of the international community.
"It is essential to let the Iraqis set the agenda and for the United Nations to then support its implementation as and when requested," he said. For this reason, much of the U.N. plan has yet to be written.
What the United Nations cannot do is replace the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), nor should it every replace the rightful role of the Iraqis in shaping the future of their country, Vieira de Mello said. "What the United Nations can do is to help facilitate and build consensus among Iraqis, and between Iraqis and the CPA."
For the governing council to succeed it will need the full support of the international community, the faith of the Iraqi people, and the empowerment to deliver tangible improvements to the welfare of the populations "yet not bear the brunt of criticism for what remains the legal obligation of the CPA," he said.
He said there needs to be a "clear timetable with milestones" for the earliest possible restoration of Iraqi sovereignty.
"Iraqis need to know that the current state of affairs will come to an end soon," Vieira de Mello said.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte called for the international community to help with the security situation in the country. He said the Bush administration and its coalition partners are committed to building a new Iraq.
"President Bush has made clear that the United States, together with our coalition partners and others willing to join us in this important effort, is committed to establishing the conditions for security, which will allow prosperity and democracy to flourish," he said.
Negroponte also urged nations to help promote economic activity with the goal being an open market economy that keeps in place a social safety net.
Negroponte said that the presence of the Iraqi Governing Council members at the United Nations is "a powerful symbol" of the fact that "for the first time in almost 50 years in Iraq, there is no limit on the freedom of expression ... all shades of opinion have full freedom to compete in an open market of ideas."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=July&x=20030722181656atia0.1761133&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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