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Kofi Natters On about Recognition of Governing Council
Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to recognize the Iraqâs new Governing Council as a step toward the formation of a true government. Annan also said the Security Council should establish a U.N. mission in Iraq and he chided the members for failing to say anything about the 25-member Governing Council after three of its members addressed a Security Council meeting on July 22.And if they donât get with it, Kofi will strongly chide them next time. Spain circulated a draft statement after that meeting welcoming the Governing Council as an important first step toward the formation of an internationally recognized government in Iraq. But it was not adopted because of differing views among the 15 council nations. More than four months after the bitterly divided Security Council refused to back the war in Iraq, the U.S.-led occupation and the U.N.âs postwar role remain sensitive issues. Despite this, Iraq was still one of the key items on the agenda of Annanâs monthly lunch with the council. "We do need a decision to set up the (U.N.) mission. I think it is also important that they say something about the Iraqi Governing Council," Annan told The Associated Press. The secretary-general noted that the three Iraqis came to the United Nations to address the Security Council, which did not respond. "It doesnât send a very good message," Annan said. It sent the message that M. deVillepin wanted sent. The U.S.-appointed Governing Council is representative of the key constituencies in Iraq - Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds - and was meant to be a transition to a more permanent government. The United States had pressed for a strong Security Council statement that would have welcomed establishment of the Governing Council. But indicative of the opposition was Mondayâs Arab League announcement that its members will not recognize the U.S.-appointed body, and will wait instead until post-Saddam Hussein Iraq is led by
They donât like what weâve done so far? Theyâre going to like the next year even less. Posted by: Steve White 2003-08-06 |
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