US
and Britain seek to limit UN role in Iraq
Associated Press
10 May, 2003
America and Britain are seeking
UN approval to run Iraq for at least a year in an American proposal
that also limits the role of the United Nations in the country.
The long-awaited US draft
resolution, to be introduced at the UN Security Council today, outlines
an American vision for post-war Iraq sharply at odds with that of several
Security Council members, particularly Russia.
The proposal would end UN
control over Iraq's oil revenue and let the US-led coalition use the
country's vast oil wealth to help finance its reconstruction
with international oversight.
The proposal also calls for
the immediate lifting of sanctions against Iraq and would phase out
the oil-for-food humanitarian programme over four months. The programme
has been feeding 90 per cent of Iraq's 24 million people.
It does not mention any role
for UN weapons inspectors, whose return to Iraq Washington opposes.
The proposal also endorses
the authority of the United States and Britain to govern Iraq
and it apparently forsees a lengthy stay. It notes that Washington and
London sent a letter to the council president recognizing their responsibilities
and obligations under international law "as occupying powers."
Under the proposal, the 12-month
initial authorisation would be automatically renewed unless the Security
Council decided otherwise. Since the United States and Britain have
veto power in the council, they could block any attempt to get them
to leave Iraq which is likely to be unacceptable to some council
members.
The United States could also
face opposition from council members who want the UN to be a major player
in creating an interim government for Iraq. The draft resolution does
not define the make-up or duties of a provisional government, which
if approved would effectively leave it up to the United States and Britain
to decide.
The draft resolution was
given to some council members last night and US and British officials
began lobbying for its approval in capitals of key council nations.
The council faces a deadline
just four weeks from now when the current six-month phase of the oil-for-food
program expires.
"Our view is that it's
desirable to have this resolution passed as soon as possible, that the
3 June deadline for the expiry of the oil-for-food program is in fact
very much the outer limit," said US Ambassador John Negroponte.
There is little enthusiasm
for another bruising battle in the Security Council following the bitter
debate earlier this year over the war itself. The fight shattered the
council's unity and left France, Russia, Germany and China at odds with
the United States, Britain and Spain.
Nonetheless, council diplomats
predict a tough round of negotiations and Russia and France have made
their own proposals.
Russia wants UN weapons inspectors
to return to Baghdad to certify that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
have been eliminated before sanctions are lifted. It also wants the
oil-for-food program continued under UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's
authority until Iraq has a legitimate government and sanctions are lifted.
"We believe it's still
valid," Russia's UN Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said.
The French proposal calls
on the council to suspend sanctions, phase out the oil-for-food program,
have US and UN weapons inspectors work together, and lift sanctions
when a legitimate Iraqi government is in place.
The US proposal calls on
Mr Annan to appoint a UN special coordinator who would work with US
and British authorities and the Iraqi people to restore and establish
"national and local institutions for representative governance."
The UN coordinator would
also promote the delivery of humanitarian aid, reconstruction, human
rights, legal and judicial reform and international efforts to rebuild
an Iraqi police force, as well as help refugees return.