Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/21/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N / IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-310114

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Three vocal critics of the U-S led invasion of Iraq are calling for a greater role for the United Nations in the transition to Iraqi self-rule. France, Germany and Russia told the U-N Security Council that Iraqi citizens and other countries in the region should be given more say in the process. Peter Heinlein has more from U-N headquarters in New York.

TEXT: The United States and Britain were in the hot seat (under a lot of pressure) Friday, as the Security Council discussed returning Iraq to civilian rule. After the U-S and British ambassadors presented their plan for a handover of power to Iraqis by next June, the French, German and Russian representatives took turns finding fault with it.

Russian Ambassador Sergei Lavrov summed up the criticism in one sentence. He said the coalition plan "makes no mention of the United Nations. We think that is wrong."

German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger called U-N involvement essential.

/// PLEUGER ACT ///

We think a strong role of the United Nations is imperative to supply the necessary legitimacy to the process until we have an Iraqi government that has been elected and legitimized, has been legitimized by democratic elections.

/// END ACT ///

French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, speaking through an interpreter, urged a speedup of the timetable for handing over sovereignty. He noted that maintaining the state of occupation feeds Iraqi resentment, which in turn is exploited by extremists to extend their audience and to justify violence.

/// DE LA SABLIERE ACT ///

We cannot waste this opportunity. It might be the last opportunity. We must see that this approach makes it possible to stem violence and establish political and economic reconstruction of Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

All three Security Council members also called for a meeting of Iraqi leaders under U-N auspices. Ambassador Pleuger said the conference would be similar to the meeting of Afghan leaders that took place in Bonn, Germany in December 2001.

/// PLEUGER ACT ///

We should consider to convene an international conference. rallying Iraqis, neighbors and others in a common effort to stabilize the political and economic process. We did it successfully in Afghanistan, so why not repeat this model again.

/// END ACT ///

U-S and British representatives reacted coolly to the idea of a conference. U-S Ambassador John Negroponte said he would think about it. British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said it should be up to Iraqis, not foreigners, to make such a decision.

/// JONES PARRY ACT ///

It's really for Iraqis to look at the options to see what exactly they want to achieve and then to identify the best means of taking that forward. I don't think we can be prescriptive.

/// END ACT ///

The question of greater U-N involvement in Iraq appears moot for the moment. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has ordered all staff out of Baghdad due to security concerns. There is no indication when they might return in any numbers, but it is not likely to be until after the world body undergoes a top-to-bottom reorganization of its security apparatus.

Secretary-General Annan Thursday said he is considering basing political staff in either Cyprus or Jordan and have them fly into Iraq on an "as necessary" basis. (Signed)

NEB/NYC/pfh/KL/MEM