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Annan appeals to parties in Iraq to refrain from violence

28 April 2004 – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed to all the parties in Iraq to refrain from violence, respect international humanitarian law and give the political transition a chance, saying it was time now for those who prefer "restraint and dialogue" to make their voices heard.

"There is nothing cowardly or fainthearted about this approach," the Secretary-General told a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.

"Those who venture into violent situations in the course of peace run just as high a risk as the soldiers do," he said, echoing the warning by his Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi that violent military action by an occupying power against the inhabitants of an occupied country will only make matters worse.

"It takes courage and dogged determination to work for peace in a violent world," he said.

Referring to Mr. Brahimi's briefing yesterday to the Security Council, the Secretary-General said it was "a very sober assessment" of the chances of success in the political process in Iraq, given the deteriorating security situation.

"But I want to add my voice to his in appealing to all parties in Iraq to refrain from violence, to respect international humanitarian law, and to give this process of political transition a chance," he said.

"We all want to see the end of the occupation. We all want to see Iraq at peace - with itself and with its neighbours and with a genuinely representative government," he said. "Somehow, we have to get from here to there, and I think the kind of caretaker government he's proposed is the way forward."