Syria and other Arab nations, at an annual meeting of the General Assembly, on Monday renewed their call for a quick restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqis and a bigger UN role in this process.

Describing the situation in Iraq "precarious," Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara said that the real challenge is "how to extricate Iraq from this predicament and mobilize all efforts to win the battle for peace in post-war Iraq."

"Syria affirms that finding the way out of this predicament does not lie in focusing on addressing the lack of security, therefore increasing the number of troops, using force to bring about security or leveling accusations at neighboring countries," he added.

He stressed that there should be "a clear timetable for the withdrawal of the occupying forces from Iraq as soon as possible" and the United Nations must play "a pivotal role in Iraq in the various political, security and economic fields."

Al-Shara, whose nation is currently the only Arab member on the Security Council, noted that a new resolution on Iraq must reassure the Iraqi people about their future and guarantee their independence and sovereignty over their land and their resources.

His statements were echoed by his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, two allies of the United States in the region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher El Sayed told the assembly that there is the need "to create the conditions conducive to the earliest possible withdrawal of the occupying forces and the discharge by the UN of a central role in assisting the Iraqis in the political and economic reconstruction of their state."

He said that Egypt is ready to take part in the reconstruction process in cooperation with the international community "under the aegis of the UN."

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said that it is "of the utmost necessity to set a clear timetable that would assure the Iraqis that they are close to restoring their sovereignty and independence."

Al-Faisal described as a "positive step" for the League of Arab States to allow the US-installed Iraqi Governing Council to take up the seat of Iraq within the group temporarily.

The United States has insisted that it would not return full sovereignty to the Iraqis until after the holding of general elections and the establishment of a new Iraqi government.

It is expected to formally present a draft resolution to the Security Council calling for more international troops and financial help for Iraq. Many countries have called for an inclusion of a clear timetable for the return of Iraqi sovereignty in the resolution.
  
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2003)