21 August 2003
Negroponte Reports to U.N. Security Council on Progress in Iraq
Says progress has occurred on political, economic and security fronts
Reporting to the U.N. Security Council on the Coalition's progress in Iraq, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte said August 21 that for the first time in decades, Iraqi resources, including oil revenues, are being spent for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
The timing of the terrorist attack on the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad August 19 "was no accident," Negroponte said. "It occurs at a critical juncture, when the impact of initial plans and efforts has begun to take positive effect."
Negroponte and British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry reported to the Security Council on the Coalition's progress on security, the economy, humanitarian activities, efforts to establish local institutions for representative governance, commitment to human rights, and legal and judicial reform since May. The progress was made, they said, with the assistance and expertise of the United Nations.
"One of the most significant accomplishments was the formation on July 13 of the 25-member Governing Council. It is now up to the Governing Council to guide the country through the sequence of events -- naming ministers for an interim government, drafting a constitution, holding elections -- that will lead to an internationally recognized, representative government," Negroponte said.
Regarding progress on the economic front, Negroponte said currency unification is set for October and efforts are under way to establish an Iraqi Trade Bank.
On security issues, an Iraqi civil defense corps is being organized to work with Coalition forces on security tasks and a Facilities Protection Service is being formed to guard critical infrastructure, government facilities, and cultural and educational assets, the ambassador said. There are nearly 38,000 police officers patrolling throughout the country.
Negroponte also said that while the Coalition does not know who carried out the attack on the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, "we can surmise their motives: to restore the brutal reign of terror of the Saddam regime and the Ba'ath party. To terrify those who wish to work with the international community to build a free and democratic Iraq. To create a new battleground in the global war between terrorists and civilized nations."
Following is the transcript of the ambassador's remarks:
(begin text)
Statement by Ambassador John D. Negroponte,
United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
on the Situation in Iraq, in the Security Council, August 21, 2003
Mr. President, on May 22, this body joined together to help the Iraqi people recover from decades of repression, willful neglect, and isolation. We adopted a framework to enable the Coalition Provisional Authority, the United Nations, Member States, and others in the international community to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction. At that time, my government and the United Kingdom committed to informing the Council on a quarterly basis of progress in implementing Resolution 1483.
We had looked forward to this opportunity to inform you in detail about Coalition activities and efforts to illustrate our commitment to fostering the conditions in which the Iraqi people chart their own future, and to seek your continued support for this unprecedented undertaking.
But like everyone gathered here, as well as friends and colleagues in countries all over the world, our step is a little slower today, our smiles a bit forced, as we begin to come to grips with the truly inestimable loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello and other United Nations officials and Iraqi staff who perished on Tuesday.
It has only been three short months since Resolution 1483 was adopted, and in that brief period Sergio and his devoted staff energetically seized the mandate awarded by the Council and forged a path for United Nations contributions to Iraq's reconstruction.
For nearly 60 years, the United Nations has been a partner and friend to people in need all over the world. United Nations employees who freely chose to help in Iraq are unarmed civilian professionals who have devoted their talents and energies to public service. These good people are men and women from every background who lend a hand when we call. They are no man's enemy.
On behalf of the United States and the American people, I extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.
I also want to assure you that Coalition forces are working closely with UN officials to ensure that the injured receive appropriate medical care. We greatly appreciate the many offers of assistance from other nations with the difficult, indeed heart-wrenching, work at the site of the attack.
While we do not yet know the identities of those who perpetrated this hateful attack, we can surmise their motives: to restore the brutal reign of terror of the Saddam regime and the Ba'ath party. To terrify those who wish to work with the international community to build a free and democratic Iraq. To create a new battleground in the global war between terrorists and civilized nations. To prevent the emergence of a new Iraq, whose people live at peace amongst themselves and with their neighbors. And to threaten the foundation carefully laid since Iraq's liberation. The Iraqi people, the Coalition, the United Nations, and others in the international community have labored mightily over the past few months to build a new Iraq.
With concrete support from the international community, the Iraqi people will realize the potential of their great nation. However, as Tuesday's attack painfully illustrates, we should be under no illusions about the enormity of the task. Thirty years of unbridled tyranny have scarred and stunted the Iraqi body politic. The sustained lack of investment in human and material infrastructure has left Iraq ill-equipped to meet the needs and challenges of the twenty-first century. Iraq must transform its failed statist economy into a functioning market-based system. Basic services must be fully restored, improved, and expanded. The voice of the Iraqi people must be reclaimed from enforced silence and speak freely in a civil society, through responsible media, and through local and national elections. The rule of law, enshrined in a new constitution and grounded in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, must supplant rule by terror. The police and army must be transformed from instruments of oppression and brutality into professional institutions capable of ensuring order and security.
Resolution 1483 provided the framework for Iraq's regeneration. Since its adoption, one of the most significant accomplishments was the formation on July 13 of the 25-member Governing Council. It is now up to the Governing Council to guide the country through the sequence of events - naming ministers for an interim government, drafting a constitution, holding elections - that will lead to an internationally recognized, representative government.
For the first time in decades, Iraqi resources -- including oil revenues, assets of the former regime, and donor funds - are being spent for the benefit of the Iraqi people. The Coalition, in coordination with the Governing Council, developed a budget for the remainder of 2003 of U.S. $6.1 billion. The Governing Council has now taken the lead in developing a budget for the year 2004.
Allow me to highlight other important markers of progress. In all of these areas, the Coalition has worked side-by-side with United Nations specialized agencies, and in many cases, the resulting achievements would not have been possible without their assistance and expertise.
We are working to improve economic conditions. Salaries, pensions, and emergency payments inject U.S. $20 million per month into the Iraqi economy. The Coalition is buying wheat and barley crops from Iraqi farmers. Efforts are underway to establish an Iraqi Trade Bank and put the banking system on line. Currency unification is set for the month of October.
In the field of security, we have initiated programs to enable Iraqis to develop a capacity to foil the saboteurs who target their electrical infrastructure, oil industry and other sectors critical to Iraq's renewal. For example, we are in the process of organizing an Iraqi Civil Defense Corps to work with Coalition forces on security tasks, and we have also hired several thousand Iraqis into the Facilities Protection Service to provide security for critical infrastructure, government facilities, and cultural and educational assets.
We have taken major strides toward promoting a secure environment with an effective and professional police force. Tens of thousands of Iraqi police answered the call to return to work for the betterment of their country, and the recruitment and training is underway to thousands more on the streets. There are currently nearly 38,000 police officers patrolling throughout the country, some 6,000 of whom are in Baghdad. Our ultimate goal is to have approximately 65,000 police countrywide. We have also worked hard with the Iraqis to refurbish and reopen police stations, courts, and prisons around the country.
Some countries have already contributed expertise, trainers or equipment to support police programs in Iraq - most notably Canada, Denmark, Singapore and South Korea. We will need the help of other countries to build an effective and durable Iraqi police force.
It is a basic task of security sector reform in Iraq to make permanent the de-militarization of the internal security structures of the Saddam regime. However, as it resumes full control of its affairs, Iraq will need a military for self-defense. Accordingly, we have started training the New Iraqi Army. We are supporting Governing Council efforts to develop the institutional and legal framework necessary to ensure that the new Iraq's national security policy and national security institutions are both under democratic, civilian control and can maintain Iraq's security in a secure region.
Just as with our civilian police and other security reform initiatives, the Iraqi people and the Coalition welcome and need the participation of the international community in these efforts to help bring security and stability to Iraq. Many countries have already rallied to this effort. More than thirty nations have sent or committed forces to promote stability in Iraq, and we are continuing our efforts to secure contributions from others.
Mr. President, the timing of Tuesday's attack was no accident. It occurs at a critical juncture, when the impact of initial plans and efforts has begun to take positive effect. A secure, democratic, and stable Iraq is a threat and a target for those who would turn the clock back to the days of tyranny.
In the face of this attempt to sabotage the future of Iraq, there is only one response available to us if we are to live up to the principles of our charter. The members of this body must unreservedly stand together. We must invigorate our struggle against terrorism and aggressively implement measures to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism. And we must solidify and enhance our support for security and stability in Iraq, in order to foster an environment in which the people of Iraq freely determine their own future.
Members of this body can best honor the legacy of those who died on Tuesday with a sustained and unwavering commitment to build a better Iraq.
(end text)
(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=20030821180623atia0.1676447&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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