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U.S. Rejects Timetable Proposal for Iraq
The United States rejected a proposal by France, Russia and Germany Tuesday to add a timetable for the transfer of power to Iraqis to its new resolution and give Secretary-General Kofi Annan a role in its preparation. The absence of a timetable diminished the likelihood that the resolution will be adopted with broad support from the 15-member Security Council. But it is still likely to get at least the minimum nine ``yes’’ votes needed for adoption. A vote could come early as Wednesday afternoon.
And then we’ll see if the French really will abstain.
The timetable was the centerpiece of a package of amendments offered by France, Russia and Germany — and later supported by China — in an effort to reach a compromise with the United States on the transition from U.S. occupation to the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. While the United States agreed to several other amendments proposed by the three countries at a closed-door Security Council meeting Tuesday night, French, Russian and German diplomats privately expressed disappointment at the rejection of the timetable.
"Curses! Foiled again!"
The latest U.S. draft, with the amendments that were accepted, was being sent by council members to their capitals. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte earlier Tuesday asked all council nations to be prepared to vote, starting Wednesday afternoon. Diplomats said the United States wants a resolution adopted before President Bush leaves for Asia on Thursday. ``We’ll certainly look for the broadest possible support in a resolution, but we’re also looking to get a resolution,’’ State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Tuesday.
"Train’s leaving the station!"
Bush’s main aim in seeking a new resolution is to get more countries to contribute troops and money to stabilize and rebuild Iraq. The resolution would authorize a multinational force — sought by some potential troop contributing nations — led by the United States. Washington has also pressed for a vote ahead of a major donors’ conference for Iraq in Madrid, Spain on Oct. 23-24, and the U.S. draft urges the 191 U.N. member states to make ``substantial pledges.’’ Many council members are concerned at the mixed message the U.N.’s most powerful body would send if the resolution was only approved by a slim margin. Annan said Tuesday he hoped the United States would work ``to get as broad support as possible because I have always maintained that the council is at its best and has the greatest impact when it is united.’’
Hey Kofi: what’s 15 times 0 equal?
Trying to find a compromise that would get support from all council nations, France, Russia and Germany dropped their demand for a handover of sovereignty to an Iraqi provisional government within months. Instead, the three countries proposed early Tuesday giving Annan and the Security Council a role in establishing a timetable for transferring power, along with the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council.
That’s the camel’s nose desperately trying to get under the tent.
But the United States rejected the proposal, sticking with its original text that calls on the coalition ``to return governing responsibilities and authorities to the people of Iraq as soon as practicable.’’ Instead of a timetable, it added a request to the coalition to report to the Security Council ``on the progress being made.’’
And there’s the camel’s nose being trod upon by a large combat boot.
The three countries submitted the amendments following a discussion between French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, diplomats said. France’s U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere rejected a suggestion that France - which opposed the U.S.-led war and lobbied hard for power to be transferred to the Iraqis by the end of the year — had capitulated.
"We merely advanced to the rear!"
But he called the package of amendments ``the minimum’’ that the three countries would accept ``in a spirit of compromise.’’
I smell ... veto!
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said Moscow’s position on the resolution will depend on ``the readiness of the authors of the draft resolution to take into account these ideas of ours,’’ the Interfax news agency reported. In addition to the timetable for a hand over, the United States also rejected a proposed amendment that would set a date for a constitutional conference. But Washington accepted an amendment leaving open the possibility of establishing an interim government in the future. Russia, France and Germany proposed an amendment that would end the multinational force’s mandate ``on the day the council receives a report from the secretary-general that an internationally recognized, representative government of Iraq was sworn in.’’ The United States accepted a revision that would terminate the mandate ``unless the new government of Iraq requests otherwise.’’
Turned that one back nicely, eh?
Posted by: Steve White 2003-10-15
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=19896