10 April 2003
U.S. Seeks International Cooperation in Rebuilding Iraq
(State Department Report April 10: Rebuilding Iraq) (640) The U.S. goal in Iraq now is to get the international community "to get together and help rebuild Iraq for the sake of its people," says State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher. At the April 10 daily briefing at the State Department, reporters asked about the contracting process that will allow companies to participate in the rebuilding of Iraq once hostilities cease. "There will be projects financed with American taxpayer money; there will be projects financed with European taxpayer money. There will be projects financed with Japanese taxpayer money," he said. "And there will be projects financed by Iraqi money: Iraqi oil revenues, Iraqi people's money. "And each of us will decide, according to international procedures and our procedures, how to spend that money. ... There's a lot to be done in Iraq," he said. Boucher said initial arrangements with firms for the planned rebuilding of Iraq were made on an expedited basis, as the war was starting or before, so that projects could be started quickly after the fighting ended. Major international companies with offices around the globe are being contracted with for the big jobs, he said. "So I expect the money will probably end up in a lot of places. And in addition, the subcontractors could be from anywhere," the spokesman said. Regarding reports of a donors conference, Boucher said he did not know of any immediate plans for one. But he said the United States has been in touch with many governments about the reconstruction phase in Iraq. "I think we've already heard from about 58 countries who are interested in contributing in various ways, whether it's to provide some police or military units to help maintain stability or to provide medical kits or wheat," he said. Contributions have already poured in from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries, he reported. Plans to bring together free Iraqis from inside and outside Iraq to discuss the country's future are still under way, but no date or place for a first meeting have been set, Boucher said. When it does occur, the meeting will be "one of a series of meetings to be held in different regions of Iraq -- as the security situation permits -- in order to start working with local leaders, talk about visions of the future," he said. "It's not expected to be at the political-leader level. It's expected to be sort of with organizations and local leaders and representatives." Regarding the northern border of Iraq, Boucher said that Secretary of State Colin Powell has been speaking with the Turkish prime minister and foreign minister about their country's security concerns. "One of the goals of U.S. policy is to make sure that northern Iraq or any part of Iraq can't be used as a base for terrorism," Boucher said. The U.S. military, the spokesman said, has offered the possibility of liaison arrangements with the Turkish military. "We do not want to see any armed groups controlling territories, areas or resources in northern Iraq, and in moving in, the United States military will make sure that's the case, " Boucher said. Coalition forces, Boucher emphasized, are in command in northern Iraq and ensuring the safety of all the people there. "And U.S. forces are on the ground in Kirkuk, and will be as appropriate in Mosul, and are taking full command in those towns," he said. The U.S. agreement with Turkey, Boucher said, is that if there were "developments that cause concern, we would immediately talk and figure out how to handle them so that no undue concern had to arise in Turkey. And we think we're doing that successfully in this situation." (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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