05 August 2003
State's Reeker Urges Broad Support for Iraqi Governing Council
Describes council as means to democratic, self-rule in Iraq
The State Department has urged members of the Arab League and countries in the region to support the new Iraqi Governing Council, which is providing the Iraqi people a path to democratic self-rule.
"It really represents the beginning of a new Iraqi government for the people of Iraq, representative of geographic and ethnic and tribal and religious diversity of the country. They have in just a few weeks established themselves, elected a president, sent representatives before the United Nations to make presentations. And as Secretary Powell said, we believe that all Arab nations should welcome the Governing Council and provide expressions of support," said State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker, speaking at the State Department daily press briefing.
Reeker added that through the council's action, the Iraqi people will have a new constitution and elections for a new "fully sovereign" government.
Following is an excerpt from the August 5 State Department briefing:
(begin excerpt)
QUESTION: The Arab League has declined to recognize the Governing Council in Iraq. Is that disappointing? It isn't, you know, black and white, the judgment. But it is -- they had --
MR. REEKER: I don't know that I have seen any final statements put out by the Arab League, who are meeting in a council session. I did see wire reports quoting a group of ministers referring to the Iraqi Governing Council as a "step in the right direction," I think was the quote that I saw.
As Secretary Powell said yesterday in his interview, we think it was very important that the Iraqi Governing Council was formed. It really represents the beginning of a new Iraqi government for the people of Iraq, representative of geographic, ethnic, tribal and religious diversity of the country.
They have in just a few weeks established themselves, elected a president, sent representatives before the United Nations to make presentations. And as Secretary Powell said, we believe that all Arab nations should welcome the Governing Council and provide expressions of support.
We have made that view clear. The Secretary has spoken with some Arab leaders in that regard. We have communicated that to Arab governments. We think it is important that this structure be given the support from the region, as well as the international community more broadly, as the United Nations has.
QUESTION: He talked directly to Moussa. You know, he put his -- he got involved directly, personally. But the State Department does not, what, conclude that it's a final action, or doesn't see -- because it's a mixed result, doesn't see it as disappointing?
MR. REEKER: I think, Barry, I have to leave it with what I have said and what the Secretary has indicated. I haven't seen final results from this one meeting of the Arab League. And, you know, I have made quite clear what our views are, as the Secretary has, and certainly as Ambassador Bremer has, in terms of the plans for the future of Iraq.
With this Iraqi Governing Council in place, there is now in the hands of the Iraqi people a transition to democratic self-rule. The timing of that obviously will be something we will have to look at, they will have to look at. But their part in this process, I think, will lead, as you know, to writing of the constitution, and then election of a government in Iraq that then can be fully sovereign.
And we are going to continue supporting this council as we also live up to our responsibilities and the responsibilities and obligations of the Coalition Provisional Authority, which are working with the Iraqi Governing Council and the Iraqi people on so many contributions from the international community around the world to make progress in Iraq in terms of security, in terms of the economy, in terms of so many areas: health care, education, universities opening, courts being put back into operation -- things we have talked about before.
QUESTION: Okay.
QUESTION: Phil, on that, briefly, the kind of support that you would like the Arab League or the region to give them, did that extend to actual -- some kind of recognition of the Governing Council? Or was it just a -- kind of a general idea of support?
MR. REEKER: Well, I think "expressions of support" is how the Secretary put it. I think that's important. It's the type of thing the United Nations did when they received the representatives of the Governing Council. So welcoming the council, expressing their support for it, I think, is important.
QUESTION: Yeah, but not necessarily including them in any meetings they might have or --
MR. REEKER: Those would be decisions they would have to make and that the council would have to make, frankly.
QUESTION: Yeah, but would you like to see that happen?
MR. REEKER: I don't want to make a blanket statement because I am not sure, specifically, what you would be referring to. But clearly, the more support that the council can have --
QUESTION: Well, would you like to, for example, to see a representative of the council attend, even as an observer status, Arab League --
MR. REEKER: Those will be decisions for them to make, both for the council and for the --
QUESTION: Well, I know they're decision -- all right. Well, if you are not going to answer the question, you are not going to answer it.
MR. REEKER: Terri.
QUESTION: Well, part of that was my question, but Secretary Powell said that the State Department had sent out cables to Arab governments overnight -- sent these two nights ago?
MR. REEKER: We sent cables to our embassies to make the same kind of pitch, as you will, if you will, as I have publicly, that this is our view. That's how we conduct the diplomacy. And as the Secretary indicated yesterday, he was on the phone personally with Amr Moussa, the Secretary General of the Arab League, and indicated our views that we would like all countries of the region to show their support for the Iraqi [Governing] Council.
(end excerpt)
(Distributed by 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=August&x=20030805185347namfuaks0.2087213&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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