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United Nations Security Council members ended their debate Tuesday on Iraq's reconstruction, with many members calling for greater UN roles and a clear timetable to ensure an early restoration of sovereignty to Iraq.
German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said in his speech that Germany welcomes and supports the adoption of a new Security Council resolution on expanding UN responsibilities in Iraq, so that member countries who wish to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction could do so under the UN auspices. He said that Germany has always advocated for a strong UN-role in the post-war scenario in Iraq.
He said Germany held that the UN, in coordination with the Occupation Authority, can make significant contribution to the political transition in Iraq. UN involvement helps lend legitimacy to the process, and it can also put at the disposal of the Iraqi people the experience and expertise accumulated by the UN in these fields over the years.
The German envoy emphasized the urgent need for international assistance for Iraq's economic revival. He expressed his country's readiness to contribute its share in this regard. But he noted Germany believes that international support will be forthcoming only when full transparency and international participation in the decision making process is assured.
He stressed that the decision on whether the Governing Council will be accepted as the legitimate transitional representation of the Iraqi people has to be taken by the Iraqis themselves.
In his speech, US ambassador to the UN John Negroponte noted that Resolution 1483 affirmed the collective commitment to the free political development of an internationally recognized, representative government of Iraq.
The Iraq's Governing Council, he said, will play a leading role in determining the process for drawing up a new constitution and proceeding to democratic national elections. A Preparatory Commission will be established to recommend a process by which a new constitution for Iraq will be prepared and approved.
The US envoy noted that the unfolding political process in Iraqis opposed by some and the fragile security situation is a clear manifestation of the few who oppose political freedom. He urged council member states to contribute stability forces under Resolution 1483.
On Iraq's economic reconstruction, he said the international community must promote economic activity on an urgent basis, so as to set the Iraqi economy on the path for sustainable growth and establish a strong momentum toward an open market economy, while keeping in place a social safety net.
Jean-Marc De La Sabliere, French ambassador to the UN, said his country as well as the European Union stands for a successful political and economic reconstruction of Iraq. The establishment of the Governing Council was a positive first step toward the establishment of a representative and internationally recognized government and partner.
The French UN envoy reiterated that there must be a central role for the United Nations in conducting a national dialogue and elaborating a constitution, as well as in the area of judicial and electoral reform, among other things.
Only the United Nations had the impartiality and expertise to assure an effective restoration of the Iraqi state apparatus. He urged the UN to take an ambitious approach to its role in financial and economic reconstruction of Iraq.
He said that France supported the establishment of an international fund managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the international financial institutions. It was essential that the economic reconstruction process was carried out within the provisions of international law.
Russian ambassador to the UN Gennady Gatilov said the international community can help the Iraqi people out of their crisis only through the respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the country and the rights of its people to their natural resources.
He stressed that the security problem could not be resolved solely by military means, without establishing a political process. The creation of the Governing Council was a step in the right direction, making it possible to establish an Interim Administration. The people of Iraq must determine their own future, and the international community had to provide assistance toward that end, he said.
The Russian ambassador stressed the need for a clear timetable, which would lead to the establishment of full sovereignty and an end to the military occupation. He also urged the United Nations to do more to help resolve the humanitarian problems after the oil-for-food program was phased out.
The proposal to establish the United Nations assistance mission in Iraq was timely, and its scope was appropriate. In implementing resolution 1483, it was necessary to take a decision on specific steps to enhance United Nations involvement in a post-war settlement, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2003)
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