21 August 2003
U.S., U.N. Determined to Succeed in Iraq
Powell, Annan discuss Iraq at U.N. headquarters in New York
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- After a private meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan at the United Nations in New York August 21, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the United States will work with the United Nations on a new resolution to strengthen efforts in Iraq.
Talking with journalists after the meeting, Powell said that U.S. diplomats will be talking with Security Council colleagues to find "appropriate" language for a third resolution on Iraq since May.
"We're looking at ... reaffirming our determination to succeed in Iraq. We're looking forward to language that might call on member states to do more," the secretary of state said.
"Some 30 nations are now participating in coalition operations in Iraq. It is an international coalition," Powell said. "There are 22,000 troops there from these 30 nations. Five other nations are in the process of sending troops and 14 other nations are in conversation with the coalition on troop contributions."
"So that is an international presence," Powell said. "And we will continue to work with other nations who might be willing to make contributions."
"Perhaps the wording of a new resolution might encourage others to participate," the secretary said. Other issues on the role of the U.N. in Iraq "can be discussed in the course of our negotiations on a resolution."
Annan said he did not intend to recommend that the Security Council authorize U.N. peacekeepers, often referred to as "blue helmets," for Iraq.
"So really, it's ... a multinational force that oversees the security arrangements, with the U.N. focusing on the economic, political, and social areas, where we do our best work, including the humanitarian," the secretary general said.
Annan said he was optimistic that the council could agree on a new resolution, but said "it will take consultations and negotiations."
Regardless of the divisions before the war, he said, "we all realize that it is urgent to help bring peace to Iraq, bring peace to the region."
The secretary general emphasized that the stability of Iraq would be in everyone's interest. "This is why I would want to see everyone come together to help to stabilize Iraq and the region," Annan said.
"An Iraq that is destabilized, an Iraq that is in chaos, is not in the interest of the region or the world, and we do have a responsibility to ensure that," the secretary general said.
Talks with foreign ministers in the last few days have shown that "they were interested in moving forward and helping the Iraqi people," Powell said. He pointed out that since May the Security Council has passed resolutions 1483 and 1500 about helping Iraq.
"There is a willingness to come together to help the Iraqi people," the secretary of state said.
Resolution 1483, adopted May 22, states that the United Nations is resolved to play a vital role in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and the restoration and establishment of national and local institutions for representative government. Resolution 1483 also sets out the areas in which the United Nations should be involved, such as refugees, human rights, and judicial reform, and it established the position of U.N. special envoy in Iraq. Resolution 1500, passed August 14, officially established the 300-person United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for an initial period of 12 months.
Powell and Annan gave no indication on how the Coalition Provisional Authority and the U.N. Security Council will address the security concerns in the aftermath of the devastating August 19 bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
The security environment in Iraq is challenging, Powell said, "but we will work closely with the United Nations to make sure that they can perform their work in as safe an environment as is possible considering the circumstances. "
President Bush "has always felt that the U.N. has a vital role to play and he said that repeatedly. It is playing a vital role," he said.
Powell also said he brought condolences from President Bush on the death of U.N. Special Envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and other U.N. staff, "who were working in the cause of peace, who were there to help the Iraqi people" when they were killed in the bombing.
The bombers, the secretary said, are terrorists and criminals "who were determined to stop us from helping the Iraqi people."
"They will not succeed. The United Nations remains committed, the coalition remains committed, the United States certainly remains committed to stay in Iraq and to make sure that the promise that was brought to Iraq by the elimination of the [Saddam] Hussein regime will be achieved, will be made available to every Iraqi citizen," Powell 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)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=August&x=20030821142520atia0.959057&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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