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International leaders seek agreement on Iraq's future
GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- Foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council met Saturday to discuss the U.S.-sponsored resolution to bring the international community into the rebuilding of Iraq, an issue that has been nearly as contentious as the U.S. push for war with Iraq earlier this year. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said a proposal from the French -- who teamed with Germany and Russia to oppose the war -- was unrealistic. But with U.S. President George W. Bush scheduled to speak to the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, the Americans want a quick resolution to the problem.
U.S. control over the reconstruction of Iraq's civilian infrastructure is at the heart of the disagreements between the five permanent members, which are the United States, Britain, Russia, France, and China. Sources said that the foreign ministers generally recognize the need for U.S. control over the military aspects of reconstruction, but seek to downgrade U.S. control over civilian life. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the ministerial-level meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to get agreement on a plan to stabilize Iraq. His spokesman said Thursday that Annan had asked U.N. council members "to quietly work out their differences among themselves." The United States is expected to present to the world body a single version of the draft resolution next week. Arriving for Saturday's meeting, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the gathering was an informal one, and "formal discussions will continue in New York." Straw said that talks so far had been cordial and instructive. Before the main meeting, Powell talked with Straw and the newly appointed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiaar Zeebari. International differencesDiplomats have agreed not to speak publicly about the proposals, but some details about the plans have been released.
The U.S. draft resolution calls for the authorization of a multinational force under a "unified" U.S. command. It would allow the U.S.-selected governing council, together with the United States and the United Nations, to set a timetable to draft an Iraqi constitution and to hold elections. France and Germany -- one of 10 rotating members of the Security Council -- want the resolution to set a timetable to transfer authority to Iraqis. They also want greater international control over funds to reconstruct Iraq, particularly through the Development Fund for Iraq, set up to hold oil revenues. According to a previous resolution, the United States has lead authority over spending that fund, but with international oversight. In a sign of consolidation, the French-German proposal endorses the Iraqi Governing Council and the cabinet of ministers "as the trustee of Iraqi sovereignty until the processes leading to an elected and fully representative government are completed." Russia's proposal says a multinational force in Iraq should have a one-year mandate that the Security Council could extend. Under the proposal, the mandate would expire when Annan reports to the council that the "political process" had made sufficient progress and troops would no longer be needed. Diplomats said Syria and Chile, two other rotating council members, have proposed separate ideas. Syria's proposal is described by one diplomat as a call for "an internationalization of the political and economic structures of Iraq aimed to win the heart of the Iraqi population to help them accept the takeover" of the country. Relinquishing IraqOn Tuesday, ambassadors from the five permanent Security Council members, who have veto power, met to discuss the French-German amendments. They also considered the proposal from Russia. Those three nations want a stronger U.N. role in Iraq than the United States has sought. All of the Security Council member nations say they want power in Iraq to be transferred to Iraqis as soon as is feasible. The United States differs with these other members, though, over how the transfer should take place and how quickly it could be done. A German diplomat said the goal of speeding the transfer is "a common objective with the U.S. as well. We believe that the U.S. does not want to be more than one day necessary as an occupying force." A U.S. official said, "we don't want to be there much longer than we have to -- the second we can get out, we will." Still, U.S. officials have expressed reluctance to hand political control over to the United Nations. "The French and Germans continue to talk about giving the U.N. so much control, but the goal should be to give control directly back to the Iraqi people," one U.S. official said.
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