Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/6/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UN/IRAQ/US (L-O)

NUMBER=2-308318

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A U-S draft resolution on rebuilding Iraq hangs in limbo, following an inconclusive U-N Security Council meeting on its fate. From U-N headquarters, Peter Heinlein reports, U-S diplomats are fighting an uphill battle to win support for the proposal.

TEXT: A three-hour, closed-door Security Council session Monday yielded little more than an agreement to continue talking. Opposition to Washington's proposal gained momentum last week, after U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan said it was going in the wrong direction.

As he emerged from the meeting, U-S Ambassador John Negroponte left no doubt that progress toward a consensus was going slowly.

/// NEGROPONTE ACT ///

Today was the day other delegations made comments. I answered questions that had been raised at the last session. And, we agreed, this is the time for everybody to take a deep pause, for everybody to digest what had been said, and see how it affected our thinking.

/// END ACT ///

Ambassador Negroponte indicated tough going lies ahead. He suggested it would be good to get a resolution passed before a donors conference on Iraq later this month in Madrid.

Several countries, including France and Russia, are said to be pushing for substantial changes. German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said the U-S draft is being looked at as a starting point.

/// PLEUGER ACT ///

Many delegations said this is a good basis for discussion, and we have also to take into account views of the secretary general. And a few delegations have made very concrete proposals and amendments.

/// END ACT ///

He said there was general agreement on the need for council unanimity, to give the resolution strength.

But Syrian Ambassador Faisal Mekdad made clear such unanimity remains a long way off. He said Damascus shares Secretary General Annan's concern that any U-N-authorized Multi-National Force, or M-N-F, avoid becoming 'an appendix' to the U-S-led occupation force.

/// MEKDAD ACT ///

We need the M-N-F under the leadership of the U-N to lead Iraq to its independence, not to support the occupation forces.

/// END ACT ///

Diplomats say Monday's session yielded little compromise on either side. They say at this point, the resolution appears not to have the nine votes necessary for adoption. (SIGNED)

NEB/NYC/PFH/TW