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30 November 2004

United Nations to Set Up Trust Fund for Iraq

Donations intended to help protect U.N. personnel

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The U.N. Security Council November 30 asked Secretary-General Kofi Annan to create a trust fund to accept donations to support a U.N. protection force in Iraq.
 
The council asked Annan to establish the trust fund no later than December 3. The trust fund, the council said, would accept and administer contributions from member states for the purpose of financially supporting the "distinct entity" that will provide security for U.N. personnel in Iraq. The protection force would not be under U.N. command and support.
 
The European Union (EU) has informed the United Nations that it is ready to contribute about $12 million to finance the U.N. protection force in Iraq.
 
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth called the creation of the trust fund "something very constructive . . . with respect to the future of Iraq."
 
"We think this is a very, very positive thing, indicating not just the $12 million for security for U.N. personnel, but a real sense of commitment on the part of countries that were . . . not necessarily supportive of the military action in Iraq, but they are committed to the future and the successful election in Iraq," Danforth said after the council meeting.
 
"We, of course, hope that other countries who are interested in the future of Iraq and the successful completion of the election in January will follow the example of the European Union and also contribute to the trust fund," the ambassador said.
 
In October, Foreign Minister Bernard Bot of the Netherlands, which holds the presidency of the EU, wrote to the secretary-general about the $12 million contribution.
 
"The European Union attaches great importance to the presence of the United Nations in Iraq and wants -- wherever relevant -- to establish close engagement and cooperation with the United Nations," Bot said.
 
He added that the funds should be used for "troop contributions from third countries which are not in a position to bear the costs of deployment themselves."
 
In resolution 1546, passed in June, the Security Council said it intended to create a "distinct entity under unified command" to provide security for U.N. personnel in Iraq. The United States informed the council that the multinational force (MNF) intended to establish a brigade-size force within the MNF specifically to provide security for U.N. personnel and facilities, including convoy escort duties. The United Nations, however, so far has been unable to find enough countries to provide troops for that unit.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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