US Circulates New Draft Resolution on Iraq

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US Circulates New Draft Resolution on Iraq

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The United States circulated late Wednesday a new draft resolution to other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, asking for a multinational force to secure Iraq and more international help for rebuilding the war-battered nation.

The resolution will be presented to other members of the Security Council for closed-door consultations on Friday.

Main points of the resolution include:

-- Endorses the Iraqi Governing Council as the principal body of the Iraqi interim administration, and invites it to provide in cooperation with the occupying authority and the United Nations a timetable and program for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of future elections.

-- Calls upon countries in the region, particularly neighbors of Iraq to prevent the transit of terrorists to Iraq, arms for terrorists and financing that would support terrorists.

-- Authorizes a multinational force, under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq and urges member states to contribute assistance, including military forces, to that effort.

-- Calls on member states and international and regional organizations to contribute to the training and equipping of Iraqi police.

-- Urges international financial institutions to take immediate steps to provide their full range of loans and other assistance to Iraq. Member states and international organizations are asked to accelerate provision of substantial financial contributions to support Iraq's reconstruction.

-- Requests the United States, on behalf of all nations participating in the multinational force, report to the Security Council on the efforts of the force not less than every six months.

As to the UN role, the draft reaffirms the world body should play a vital role in Iraq, as set out in resolution 1483 adopted by the Security Council in late May. It gives few specific new duties for the United Nations except asks for help in organizing elections.

The UN Security Council consists of five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Full Text of US-drafted UN resolution on Iraq

Following is the text of the US-drafted resolution on Iraq which will be presented to other members of the 15-nation Security Council for closed-door consultation on Friday.

The Security Council

Reaffirming its previous resolution on Iraq, including resolution 1483 (2003) of 22 May 2003 and 1500 (2003) of 14 August2003, and on threats to peace and security caused by terrorist acts, including resolution 1373 (2001) and other relevant resolutions,

Reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq,

Cognizant that the bombing of the Embassy of Jordan of August 7,2003, the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad of19 August 2003, and the bombing of the Iman Ali mosque in Najaf on29 August 2003, are attacks on the people of Iraq, the United Nations and the international community,

Recalling, in that context, the presidential statement of 21 August 2003 (S/PRST/2003/13),

Recognizing that international support for restoration of conditions of stability and security is essential to the well-being of the people of Iraq as well as to the ability of all concerned to carry out their work on behalf of the people of Iraq,

Welcoming the decision of the Governing Council of Iraq to forma preparatory constitutional committee to form a constitutional conference that will draft a constitution to embody the aspirations of the Iraqi people,

Determining that the situation in Iraq, although improved, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

Acting Under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Expresses deep sympathy and condolences for the personal losses suffered by the Iraqi people and by the United Nations and the families of those United Nations personnel and other innocent victims who were killed or injured in these tragic attacks;

2. Unequivocally condemns the bombing of the Embassy of Jordan on August 7, 2003, the terrorist attack on United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, and the bombing of the Iman Ali Mosque in Najaf on 29 August 2003, and emphasizes that those responsible must be brought to justice;

3. Reaffirms its resolve that the United Nations, acting through the Secretary General, his Special Representative and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, should play a vital role in Iraq, as set out in relevant paragraphs of resolutions 1483 (2003) and 1500 (2003), including by providing humanitarian relief, promoting the economic reconstruction of and conditions for sustainable development in Iraq, and advancing efforts to restore and establish national and local institutions for representative governance;

4. Welcomes the positive response of the international community, in particular that of member states of the region, to the establishment of the broadly representative Governing Council as an important step towards an internationally recognized, representative government, endorses the Governing Council as the principal body of the Iraqi interim administration, and supports the Governing Council's efforts to mobilize the people of Iraq, including by the appointment of a cabinet of ministers;

5. Calls upon countries in the region, particularly neighbors of Iraq to respect Iraq's unity, territorial integrity and security, and to prevent the transit of terrorists to Iraq, arms for terrorists and financing that would support terrorists;

6. Invites the Governing Council to provide in cooperation withthe Authority operating in Iraq and the Special Representative of the UN. Secretary General a timetable and program for the draftingof a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections;

7. Welcomes, pursuant to the report of the Secretary General of 15 July 2003 and the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, as endorsed in resolution 1500 (2003), that the Special Representative will, inter alia, focus on the facilitationof national dialogue and the consensus-building on the political transition process, the establishment of electoral processes and assisting the Iraqi interim administration to rejoin the international community;

8. Requests the Secretary General to ensure that the resourcesof the United Nations and associated organizations are available, if requested by the Iraqi Governing Council, to help establish an electoral process in Iraq in furtherance of the program proposed by the Governing Council in paragraph 6 above, and encourages other organizations with expertise in this are to support the Iraqi Governing Council, if requested;

9. Welcomes the report of the Secretary General(S/2003/715), dated 17 July 2003, and requests that he continue his efforts to have the Untied Nations contribute to the improvement of the situation in accordance with resolution 1483 (2003);

10. Determines that the provision of security and stability is essential to the successful completion of the political process asoutlined in paragraph 6 above and to the ability of the United Nations to contribute effectively to that process and the implementation of resolution 1483 (2003), authorizes a multinational force, under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq and Urges member states to contribute assistance,including military forces, to that effort;

11. Notes that such forces as defined in paragraph 10 above would, inter alia, contribute to the security of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, the institutions of the Iraqiinterim authority, including the Governing Council of Iraq, and key humanitarian and economic infrastructure;

12. Emphasizes the importance of establishing an effective Iraqi police force in maintaining security and combating terrorismconsistent with paragraph 4 of resolution 1483, calls upon member state and international and regional organizations to contribute to the training and equipping of Iraqi police;

13. Appeals to the international financial institutions to remain engaged in Iraq to assist the people of Iraq in the reconstruction and development of their economy and calls upon those institutions to take immediate steps to provide their full range of loans and other financial assistance to Iraq, working with the Governing Council as the principal body of the Iraqi interim administration;

14. Urges members state and international and regional organizations to accelerate and provision of substantial financialcontributions to support the Iraqi reconstruction effort initiatedat the 24 June 2003 United Nations Technical Consultations, including substantial pledges at the 23-24 October 2003 International Donors Conference in Madrid;

15. Calls upon member states and concerned organizations to help meet the needs of the Iraqi people by providing resources necessary for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq's economic infrastructure;

16. Reminds all member states of their obligations under resolution 1483 (2003) immediately to identify and cause the transfer of all funds or other financial assets or economic resources covered by paragraph 23 of that resolution, including those Iraqi assets that may have been previously frozen, to the Development Fund for Iraq for the benefit of the Iraqi people;

17. Requests that the United States, on behalf of all member states participating in the multinational force as outlined in paragraph 10 above, report to the Security Council on the efforts and progress of this force as appropriate and not less than every six months;

18. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

White House denies policy change in Iraq

The White House on Wednesday denied that the US decision to seek an expanded mandate for the United Nations marks a major shift in its policy in managing the post-war Iraq.

"The UN has always played a vital role in the reconstruction and the stabilization of Iraq and they will continue to play a vital role," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

He said he disagreed with the characterization that the US efforts to push for a new UN resolution to enlist more international support amounts to an about-face.

McClellan argued the United States began the efforts about two weeks ago when US Secretary of State Colin Powell met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"We will be working with members of the Security Council on the language of a resolution that would complement and build upon resolution 1483 which would allow for the maximum possible international participation and helping the Iraqi people build a better future," the spokesman said.

US President George W. Bush on Tuesday agreed to begin negotiations in the UN Security Council to authorize a multinational force for Iraq after a meeting with Powell in the White House, a senior US official disclosed on the condition of anonymity.

The decision to go ahead with a new UN resolution was widely interpreted by local media as a major shift in the administration's policy in Iraq.

Many countries, including France, Russia and India, have refused to commit troops to the stabilizing efforts in Iraq under the current UN mandate.

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