14 December 2005
United Nations Urges Iraqis To Vote Peacefully in Elections
Iraqi envoy to world body predicts "overwhelming success" of electoral process
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations – Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all Iraqis to exercise their democratic right to vote in historic legislative elections for a permanent government and appealed for an end to violence.
"Tomorrow, you the people of Iraq will have a further historic opportunity to shape your political future and choose your own leaders by democratic means. Your vote will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Iraq's history," Annan said in a statement issued December 14. "I therefore encourage all of you to turn out and exercise your democratic right to vote as a first step towards building together a stable, united and prosperous Iraq.
"I appeal to all to refrain from violence or any other action which might undermine the democratic process," he added.
"Ultimately, only you as a people can move Iraq forward," the secretary-general said, but he pledged that the United Nations will help in the political, reconstruction and humanitarian work in the years ahead.
On the eve of the Iraqi elections, U.N. officials and diplomats focused on the efforts and sacrifices being made in Iraq as the country moves toward full democracy. The Security Council met in open session to hear reports from the United States on behalf of the Multinational Force, along with reports from Under Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari on the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and from Iraqi Ambassador Samir Sumaida'ie.
In his remarks to the Security Council, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, speaking on behalf of the 30 countries making up the Multinational Force (MNF), wished Iraq "a safe and successful election."
"It is important that Iraq's election be transparent and inclusive," Bolton said. "We urge all Iraqis to participate in the election to make their views known regarding the future of Iraq. We welcome the efforts of the Iraqis, the United Nations, and other members of the international community that are enabling Iraqi citizens to participate in their political process," the U.S. ambassador said.
Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations predicted that the balloting would be "a overwhelming success" of the electoral process irrespective of the results.
"Iraq will show the world that a great majority of its people are interested in peaceful means of deciding their future and the way their country is going," Sumaida'ie said.
"We expect a very high turnout irrespective of any challenges or attempts by terrorists to hinder or impede the voting process. We believe that it will be an overwhelming statement by the Iraqi people that this is the way they want to go," the ambassador said.
NEW POLITICAL DYNAMIC SEEN AT WORK IN IRAQ
Under Secretary-General Gambari said that the growing participation in the three ballots held this year "is a sign of a new political dynamic developing in Iraq."
To have kept the political transition process on track under difficult conditions is "a testimony to the commitment of most Iraqis to participate in shaping Iraq's future through peaceful, democratic means," Gambari said.
The under secretary-general stressed the need for a national dialogue and reconciliation regardless of the outcome of the election and said that the United Nations is ready to help efforts to facilitate genuine political progress and promote greater understanding between Iraq's diverse communities.
Bolton also talked about the increase in insurgent attacks as the election nears. The situation was the same in the period before the October referendum on the Iraq Constitution, he said.
Although about 80 percent of all attacks are directed at the multinational force, about 80 percent of all casualties are suffered by Iraqis, Bolton said.
Insurgent attacks are concentrated in four of Iraq's 18 provinces -- Baghdad, Ninevah, al-Anbar and Salah ad Din, the ambassador said. MNF operations are coordinated with local officials, tribes, and/or clerics and have disrupted key insurgent cells and limited terrorists' movements, he added.
"The dramatic increase in intelligence tips provided by the population in recent months has been crucial and indicates increasing, popular rejection of the insurgents," he said. "In March 2005, Iraqi and Multinational Forces received more than 400 intelligence tips from Iraqi citizens; in August 2005, they received 3,300; and in September 2005 more than 4,700," he added.
Sumaida'ie said that the tide is turning against the terrorists. "In the beginning those disenchanted with the transition have come around to realize unless they cooperate with security forces," they will not be safe, he said.
“Security cannot be guaranteed only by security forces but with cooperation by the population," the Iraqi ambassador said. The MNF statistics "actually confirm more and more are cooperating and realizing that this is helping their own security," he said.
For additional information on the elections, see Iraq’s Political Process.
(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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