Trying to win over skeptics, the George W. Bush administration revised a UN resolution that emphasizes an eventual transfer of power to Iraqis but still leaves the US-led coalition in firm control.
The new draft, obtained by reporters on Wednesday, gives the UN a list of duties, similar to earlier versions. But it falls short of demands by France, Russia, Germany and others that the world body play a pivotal, independent role in overseeing the country's transition.
Diplomats expect considerable suggestions for changes before the measure is adopted by the 15-member Security Council.
At minimum, they say, the draft should set a date for when a plan leading to Iraqi sovereignty could be submitted.
The main purpose of the new resolution, as before, is to transform the military operation into a UN-authorized multinational force under American command.
This provision is aimed at attracting more contributions from nations wary of sending soldiers as part of an occupation force.
The 25-member Iraqi Governing Council, appointed by the US, would provide a timetable and program for drafting a new constitution and for elections, in cooperation with the occupation authorities and the UN.
The UN would help, if asked by Iraqi leaders, to establish an electoral process along with "advancing efforts to restore and establish national and local institutions for representative government," the draft says.
To meet some objections, the text speaks of the "temporary nature" of the US-led occupation "until an internationally recognized, representative government is established."
It says that the administration of Iraq will be "progressively undertaken by the evolving structures of the Iraqi interim administration.
"The day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly," the preamble of the draft says.
US Ambassador John Negroponte, this month's Security Council president, hopes the resolution can be adopted before a donors conference in Madrid on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 . No council member has threatened to veto the measure but France and others said they might abstain.
The measure was circulated as UN sources said some US$35 billion in contributions from governments and Iraq's own resources would be needed to rebuild Iraq over the next four years. The figure is based on an assessment by the World Bank, the IMF and the UN in anticipation of the Madrid meeting.
Negroponte presented the draft on Wednesday to the other four permanent council members with veto power -- France, Russia, China and Britain. Germany also received a copy.
France has advocated some immediate gesture of sovereignty while Russia wanted the UN set a timetable and guide Iraqi leaders to free elections.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan prefers a plan to turn over power to a provisional Iraqi government within three to five months, UN officials said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS