Chirac Demands Central Role for UN in Postwar Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 09, 2003

Chirac Demands Central Role for UN in Postwar Iraq

French President Jacques Chirac said Tuesday the United Nations must play "a central role" in overseeing the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq after the United States-led war there.

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French President Jacques Chirac said Tuesday the United Nations must play "a central role" in overseeing the economic and political reconstruction of Iraq after the United States-led war there.

"After a necessary phase of establishing a secure environment, the time for reconstruction will begin, during which wisdom dictates that the United Nations play a central role," Chirac tolda news conference after meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers.

"It is up to the United Nations -- and it alone -- to take on the political, economic, humanitarian and administrative reconstruction of Iraq," he said.

The French president, who opposed the US-British decision to invade Iraq in a bid to oust President Saddam Hussein, said only the world body had the "necessary legitimacy" to undertake such a task.

He added that the UN could provide a solid framework for postwar Iraq that would ensure the future stability of the country and the region.

Chirac also called for a quick end to the fighting between the coalition and the Iraq forces, with as few casualties as possible.

He said all parties involved should do everything possible and "create as quickly as possible conditions that would allow the Iraqis to regain their full sovereignty and take back their destiny."

Chirac also called on the international community to ensure that much-needed humanitarian aid arrived in the country as soon as possible.

He said his point of view was "very widely shared throughout the world," and across Europe in particular.

Chirac is due to travel to Saint Petersburg for talks on Fridayand Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Report say UN Secretary General KofiAnnan will also take part in the summit.

Before the outbreak of the US-led war in Iraq on March 20, France, Germany and Russia were the members of the UN Security Council opposing the use of force against Baghdad.

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