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UN Plans to Open New Baghdad Office
 UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations will open a new office in Baghdad to encourage cooperation between Iraq and its neighbors as part of the world body's efforts to expand its presence in Iraq, the U.N. secretary-general said Saturday.
| Now that we've done a lot of heavy lifting, the UN will come back. Be prepared for lots of white Toyota Land Cruisers and a backlog on reservations in restaurants inside the Green Zone. |
But Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped ``more would be done'' to improve Baghdad's security as the U.N. builds its presence, which has been greatly reduced since an Aug. 19, 2003, bombing at its Baghdad headquarters that killed 22 people. Ban's comments about security - as he sat alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - reflected the challenges confronting the Iraqi premier's struggle to stabilize the country while dealing with pressure from congressional Democrats who are calling for the quick withdrawal of American forces.
But Ban emphasized that the international community cannot turn away from Iraq. ``Its stability is our common concern,'' he said after a meeting that grouped top diplomats representing many of Iraq's neighbors, the United States, donor nations and other groups.
Al-Maliki, who is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and is scheduled to meet with President Bush on the sidelines, acknowledged that the country continued to face challenges, but said that ``those following the situation in Iraq have spoken of a marked improvement (in security).''
| That's a nice slap: Ban hasn't been following the situation, of course. |
Ban said the new office in Baghdad would help foster dialogue between the countries bordering Iraq and that its framework and other details would be addressed at a meeting in October in Turkey. Another office is also being considered in the southern city of Basra and the office in Irbil, in the north, could be expanded. ``U.N. experience around the world reveals that such offices facilitate communication and helps to maintain coherent direction,'' he said, according to a statement of his comments to the diplomats.
Posted by: Steve White 2007-09-23 |
