UN progress on Iraqi transition

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Registered: 04-16-2003
UN progress on Iraqi transition
Fri, 05-21-2004 - 12:23pm
New UN Resolution Taking Shape on Iraq Transition

Fri May 21, 2004 12:07 PM ET

By Evelyn Leopold

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and Britain want a new U.N. resolution to call for full sovereignty for Iraq but did not agree on a date for foreign forces to leave the country, as France and Germany seek.

At an informal meeting with the 15 U.N. Security Council members on Thursday, U.S. and British officials read from a text of "concepts" for the resolution. The paper was based in part on two earlier rounds of talks this month on Iraq's future when the U.S.-led occupation is to end on June 30.

A council diplomat said the resolution, not yet circulated, was expected to call for a "full transfer of sovereignty" on June 30 to an Iraqi caretaker government, which would then set its own limitations.

Such a government, for example, could not adopt any long-term legislation or agreements, except on a pact to alleviate the country's debt.

France, Germany and Pakistan had advocated setting a date for a "sunset" clause to end the mandate of a U.S.-led multinational force, which could be extended once a new Iraqi government was elected in January.

Britain and the United States spoke of reviews for the U.S.-led multinational force, perhaps after a year or sooner if a new government requests it, but did not commit themselves to a specific date.

U.S. officials said they wanted some wording in the resolution that would make it clear the troops would not stay forever.

However, the Bush administration agreed with France, Germany, Russia and others that Iraqi security forces could refuse to take part in operations ordered by U.S. commanders.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that Iraqi troops, although under U.S. command, would be permitted to "opt out" of a military operation.

IRAQIS TO CONTROL OIL MONIES

The resolution would also state that Iraq would have control over its oil revenues. But it would keep in place an international advisory board, which audits accounts to encourage investors and donors that their money was being spent free of corruption, the envoys said.

Under a May 2003 Security Council resolution adopted after the fall of Saddam Hussein, all proceeds of Iraq's oil and gas sales were deposited into a special account called the Development Fund for Iraq, controlled by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority.

And the diplomats said the United States wanted its envoys to supervise for another four months the oil-for-food program, once run by the United Nations, to distribute basic rations to the Iraqi population. After that, Iraqis could run it.

Compared to bitter disputes a year ago on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, participants contend there is little acrimony. But this may change when a text is distributed and after U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi reports back on the leaders of an interim government he is attempting to form in consultation with U.S. officials.

"There is some more work to complete before tabling a text," said Britain's U.N. ambassador, Emyr Jones Parry, who hosted the meeting at his office.

Visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in Washington on Thursday that a candidate had already been identified to head the interim government but had not yet accepted. He said Brahimi had also selected a backup.

Many of the resolution's proposals were aimed at alleviating concerns that the United Nations would be asked to approve an occupation under another name.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5222218&pageNumber=1