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U.S wins U.N. backing on Iraq
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The U.S. is hoping a U.N. seal of approval will lead to more money for rebuilding Iraq at a donor nation conference in Madrid next weekend. The new resolution gives an expanded role for the United Nations, addresses the transfer of power to the Iraqi people and authorizes a multinational force under U.S. control. After several days of tough negotiating, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in favor of the resolution, despite complaints from France, Germany and Russia that it does not go far enough. Thursday's 15-0 vote came hours after German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced that Russia, Germany and France -- who all opposed the war in Iraq -- would back the initiative. Representatives of those countries said more could have been done, and Schroeder, speaking before the vote, made it clear that Germany and France would not be sending troops to the country. The plan "invites the (Iraqi) Governing Council to provide to the Security Council for its review ... a timetable and a program for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections under that constitution" no later than December 15. (Full text) After the vote, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said: "With so much at stake, the text of the resolution should have gone much further. "It would have been extremely desirable in particular for a clear-cut text to set shorter and stricter timetables for the transfer of responsibilities and for political transition." German Ambassador to the U.N. Gunter Pleuger said the resolution was an "important step in the right direction," but could have been a better resolution if amendments proposed by France, Russia and Germany had been "fully integrated." "We missed a clear signal that transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis will be accelerated. The role of United Nations, in particular of secretary-general, could have been strengthened even more," he said. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "The process has been difficult, but the outcome is a clear demonstration of the will of all the members of the Security Council to place the interest of the Iraqi people above all other considerations." The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Lavrov, said the resolution clearly provides for eventual Iraqi sovereignty and Russia is pleased with the efforts of other countries to achieve a consensus. "The result we achieved is a compromise that does not solve all the problems," but the pluses outweigh the minuses, he said. In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the resolution accomplishes the objectives of the U.S. administration, and invited the Iraqi Governing Council to come forward with a plan for Iraqi sovereignty. "This is all about the Iraqi people. We are together on that neutral goal to help the Iraqi people," he said. He said the resolution did not open the door for more troops but would help assist countries deliberate troop deployments. The lone Arab nation on the council, Syria, also voted for the initiative. Fayssal Mekdad, the the Syrian ambassador, said that "even though the resolution does not respond to all our expectations," it is hoped to will be an "impetus" to accelerate Iraqi sovereignty. Syria, expected by some to vote against or abstain from the vote, said it joined the consensus after consultations with France, Russia, Germany, China and other nations. Pakistan also backed the resolution but said it would not supply troops for Iraq. Russia, France and Germany wanted the United States to agree to a speedy handover of power to Iraqis and a U.N. role in determining that timetable. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate voted on Friday to convert $10 billion in Iraq reconstruction grants, to loans. Senators voted 51-to-47 to approve a measure that would require the Iraqi government to repay the money. The Senate has not yet voted on the Bush administration's call for $87 billion -- most of it to pay for the military occupation. Bush argued that approval of the loan scheme would undermine an upcoming international donors conference. Senate approves Iraqi loans Japan has said that it would provide $1.5 billion in immediate aid, and Bush administration officials said Tokyo was working on a larger package of about $5 billion over several years. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux says the new resolution allows for an increased role for the U.N., but does not define it. She says the resolution also states that by mid-December the Iraqi Governing Council will come up with its own timetable for the creation of a constitution and for elections and sovereignty. "They finally came across something they can agree on," she said. CNN's European Political Editor, Robin Oakley, said: "The three countries are still expressing their reservations, saying they are doing this for the sake of the international solidarity, for the sake of the United Nations. "They are not happy the new resolution meets all their demands, all they are saying is that it is a step in the right direction, and that to show good faith they are willing to vote for it on those terms." -- European Political Editor Robin Oakley and State Department Producer Elise Labott contributed to this report
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It would've been extremely desirable ... for a clear-cut text to set shorter and stricter timetables for the transfer of responsibilities and for political transition.
