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[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] This is an automated compilation of submissions to newsclippings@casi.org.uk Articles for inclusion in this daily news mailing should be sent to newsclippings@casi.org.uk. Please include a full reference to the source of the article. Today's Topics: 1. Draft UN resolution on Iraq (k hanly) 2. FW: SUBJECT: GAO Reports about International Affairs (Nicholas Gilby) 3. Scientist Jailed by Hussein Is Favored for Premier's Post(Weisman/NYT) (Daniel O'Huiginn) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "k hanly" <khanly@DELETETHISmb.sympatico.ca> To: "newsclippings" <newsclippings@casi.org.uk> Subject: Draft UN resolution on Iraq Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 10:05:03 -0500 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5052147/ The Security Council, Recalling its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq, in particular resolutions 1483 (2003) and 1511 (2003), Reaffirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, Recognizing the importance of international support, particularly that of countries in the region, Iraq's neighbors, and regional organizations, for the people of Iraq in their efforts to achieve security and prosperity, Determined to mark a new phase in Iraq's transition to a democratically elected government, and looking forward, to this end, to the end of the occupations, and the assumption of authority by & sovereign Interim Government of Iraq by 30 June 2004, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General to assist the people of Iraq in achieving the formation of a sovereign Interim Government of Iraq, Welcoming the progress made in implementing the arrangements for Iraq's political transition referred to in resolution 1511 (2003) Affirming the importance of the principles of rule of law, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and of democracy, including free and fair elections Recalling the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 15 August 2003, and determined that the United Nations should play a leading role in assisting the Iraqi people in the formation of institutions for representative government. Recognizing the international support for restoration of stability and security is essential to the well-being of the people of Iraq as well as the ability of all concerned to carry o out their work on behalf of the people of Iraq, and welcoming Member State contributions in this regard under resolution 1483 (2003) of 22 May 2003 and resolutions 1511 (2003) of 16 October 2003, Recalling the report provided to the Security Council on 16 April 2004 under resolution 1511 (2003) on the efforts and progress made by the multinational force authorized under that resolution, welcoming the willingness of the multinational force to continue efforts to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq in support of the political transition, especially for upcoming elections, and to provide security of the UN presence in Iraq, as further described in the letter to the President of the Security Council on XX XX 2004, and recognizing the importance of the consent of the sovereign government of Iraq for the presence of the multinational force and of close coordination between the multinational force and that government, Noting that the multinational force will operate in accordance with generally accepted principles of international law and cooperate with relevant international organizations, Affirming the important of international assistance in reconstruction and development of the Iraqi economy, Recognizing the benefits to Iraq of the Immunities and privileges enjoyed by the Iraqi oil revenues and by the Development Fund for Iraq, and noting the importance of providing for continued disbursements of this fund by the Interim Government of Iraq and its successors upon dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Determining the situation in Iraq continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Endorses the formation of a sovereign Interim Government of Iraq that will take office by 30 June 2004; 2. Welcomes the commitment of the occupying powers to end occupation by 30 June 2004, at which time the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist and the Interim Government of Iraq will assume responsibility and authority for governing a sovereign Iraq; 3. Endorses the proposed timetable for Iraq's political transition to democratic government, including; (a) formation of a sovereign Interim Government of Iraq that will assume governing authority by 30 June 2004; (b) convening of a national conference; and (c) holding of direct democratic elections by 31 December 2004 if possible, and in no case later than 31 January 2005, to a Transitional National Authority Assembly which will, inter alia, have responsibility for drafting a permanent constitution for Iraq under which democratic elections to a national government will be held; 4. Calls on all Iraqis to implement these arrangements peaceably and in full, and on all States and relevant organizations to support such implementations; 5. Decides that, in implementing its mandate to assist the Iraqi people, the Special Representative of the Secretary General and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (a) shall in particular: (i) assist in the convening, no later than XX XX 2004, of a national conference to select a Consultative Council; (ii) advise and support the Interim Government of Iraq and the Transitional National Assembly, as required, on the process for holding elections; (iii) promote national dialogue and consensus-building on the drafting of a national constitution by the people of Iraq; and (b) shall as circumstances permit: (i) advise the Interim Government of Iraq in the development of effective civil and social services; (ii) contribute to the coordination and delivery of reconstruction, development, and humanitarian assistance; (iii) promote the protection of human rights, national reconciliation, and judicial and legal reform in order to strengthen the rule of law in Iraq; and (iv) advise and assist the Interim Government of Iraq on initial planning for the eventual conduct of a comprehensive census; 6. Reaffirms the authorization for the multinational force under unified command established under resolution 1511 (2003), having regard to the letter referred to in preambular paragraph 10 above, decides that the multinational force shall have authority to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq including by preventing and deterring terrorism, so that inter alia the United Nations can fulfill its roll in assisting the Iraqi people as outlined in paragraph five above and the Iraqi people can implement freely and without intimidation the timetable and program for the political process and benefit from reconstruction and rehabilitation activities, and decides further that the mandate for the multinational force shall be reviewed 12 months from the date of this resolution or at the request of the Transitional Government of Iraq; 7. Notes the creation by the multinational force of a distinct entity within the multinational force and under it's unified command with a dedicated mission to provide security for the UN presence in Iraq, and requests Member States and relevant organizations to provide resources to sup[ort that entity; 8. Recognizes that the multinational force will also assist in building the capability of the Iraqi security forces and institutions, through a program of recruitment , training, equipping, mentoring and monitoring, to enable the Iraqi forces progressively to play a greater role in creating conditions of security and stability in Iraq, and welcomes in that regard the arrangements that are being put in place to establish a partnership between the multinational force and the Sovereign Interim Government of Iraq and to ensure coordination between the two; 9. Requests Member States and international and regional security organizations to contribute assistance to the multinational force, including military forces, to help meet the needs of the Iraqi people for security and stability, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, and to support the efforts of UNAMI; 10. Emphasizes the importance of developing effective Iraqi police, border enforcement, and Facilities Protection Service of the maintenance of law, order, and security, including combating terrorism, and requests Member States and international organizations to assist the Interim Government of Iraq in building the capability of these Iraqi institutions; 11. Condemns all acts of terrorism in Iraq, and decides that, in accordance with their obligations under resolutions 1373 (2001), 1267 (1999), 1333 (2000), 1390 (2002). 1455 (2003), and 1526 (2004) and with other relevant international obligations, all States shall take immediate and necessary steps, inter alia, to freeze funds and other financial assets or economic resources of relevant individuals and entities, to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of relevant individuals, to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and related material to relevant individuals and entities, to refrain from providing any form or support, active or passive, to relevant individuals or entities, to prevent individuals an entities from using their respective territories for the purpose of financing, planning, facilitating or committing terrorist acts against Iraq or its citizens, and to ensure that such individuals are brought to justice; 12. Welcomes efforts by Member States to support the Interim Government of Iraq through the provision of technical and expert assistance; 13. Decides that the prohibitions related to the sale or supply to Iraq of arms and related material under previous resolutions shall not apply to arms or related material required by the multinational force or the sovereign government of Iraq to serve the purposes of this resolution, calls upon the multinational force and the sovereign government of Iraq each to ensure appropriate implementation procedures are in place, and stresses the importance for all States, particularly Iraq's neighbors, to strictly abide by them; 14. Reiterates its request that Member States, international financial institutions and other organizations strengthen their efforts to assist the people of Iraq in reconstruction and development of the Iraqi economy, including by providing international experts and necessary resources through a coordinated program of donor assistance; 15. Notes that upon dissolution of Coalition Provisional Authority the funds in the Development Fun for Iraq shall be disbursed at the direction of the Interim Government of Iraq and its successors, and decides that the Development Fund for Iraq shall be utilized in a transparent manner and through the Iraqi budget including to satisfy outstanding obligations against the Development Fund for Iraq, that the arrangements for the depositing of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas and its products established in paragraph 20 of resolution 1483 (2003) shall continue to apply, that the International Advisory and Monitoring Board referred to in resolution 1483 (2003) shall continue its activities in monitoring the Development Fund for Iraq and shall include as an additional member a duly qualified representatives of the sovereign government of Iraq, that the provisions above shall be reviewed no later than 12 months from the date of this resolution or at the request of the Transitional Government of Iraq, and that appropriate arrangements shall be made for the continuation of deposits of the proceeds referred to in paragraph 21 of resolution 1483 (2003); 16. Decides that, in connection with the dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Interim Government of Iraq and its successors shall assume the rights, responsibilities and obligations relating to the Oil for Food Program that were transferred to the Authority pursuant to Resolution 1483 (2003), including all operational responsibility for the Program and any obligations undertaken by the Authority in connection with such responsibility, and responsibility for ensuring independently authenticated confirmation that goods have been delivered, and further decides that, following a 120 day transition period, the Interim. Government of Iraq and its successors shall assume responsibility for certifying delivery of goods under contracts prioritized in accordance with that resolution, and that such certification shall be deemed to constitute the independent authentication required for the release of funds associated with such contracts; 17. Further decides that the provisions of paragraph 22 of resolution 1483 (2003) shall continue to apply, except that the privileges and immunities provided in that paragraph shall not apply with respect to any claim arising out of an obligation entered into by Iraq after 30 June 2004; 18. Welcomes the commitments of creditors, including those of the Paris Club, to identify ways to reduce substantially Iraq's sovereign debt, urges the international financial institutions and bilateral donors to take immediate steps to provide their full range of loans and other financial assistance to Iraq, recognizes that the Interim Government of Iraq has the authority to conclude and implement such agreements as may be necessary in this regard, and requests creditors, institutions and donors to work as a priority on these matters with the Interim Government of Iraq; 19. Recalls the continuing obligations of Member States to freeze and transfer certain funds, assets and economic resources to the Development Fund for Iraq in accordance with paragraph 23 of resolution 1483 (2003); 20. Calls upon all Member States to take appropriate steps within their respective legal systems to stay for a period of 12 months from 30 June 2004 all legal and other similar proceedings before their courts or other tribunals involving claims by or against the State of Iraq, its Government, or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, including its State-owned enterprises or similar bodies; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council within three months from the date of this resolution on UN AMI operations in Iraq, and on a quarterly basis thereafter on the progress made towards national elections and fulfillment of all UNAMI's responsibilities; 22. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. --__--__-- Message: 2 Subject: FW: SUBJECT: GAO Reports about International Affairs Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 09:27:38 +0100 From: "Nicholas Gilby" <Nicholas.Gilby@DELETETHISmori.com> To: <newsclippings@casi.org.uk> May 25, 2004 The General Accounting Office (GAO) today released the following reports, testimony, and correspondence: CORRESPONDENCE Iraq's Transitional Law. GAO-04-746R, May 25 http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-746R ============================ Disclaimer This e-mail is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MORI Limited. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please either notify the MORI Systems Helpdesk by telephone on 44 (0) 20 7347 3000 or respond to this e-mail with WRONG RECIPIENT in the title line. ============================ _____________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for viruses for MORI by MessageLabs. For further information visit http://www.mci.com --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 09:55:40 +0100 (BST) From: Daniel O'Huiginn <do227@DELETETHIShermes.cam.ac.uk> To: newsclippings@casi.org.uk Subject: Scientist Jailed by Hussein Is Favored for Premier's Post(Weisman/NYT) http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/politics/26DIPL.html?pagewanted=print&position= May 26, 2004 IRAQI GOVERNMENT Scientist Jailed by Hussein Is Favored for Premier's Post By STEVEN R. WEISMAN ASHINGTON, May 25 An Iraqi Shiite nuclear scientist who broke with Saddam Hussein over the country's nuclear weapons program has emerged as a leading candidate to become the country's first prime minister when sovereignty is restored at the end of June, American and Iraqi officials said Tuesday. The officials said Dr. Hussain al-Shahristani, a science adviser to the Iraqi government who spent years in Abu Ghraib prison for defying Mr. Hussein and objecting to the weapons program, was the kind of nonpolitical figure being sought by both the United Nations and the Bush administration. The selection of Dr. Shahristani, if it becomes final, could also break a long and bitter impasse among Iraq's various ethnic and religious factions over who will be governing Iraq from June 30 to the time of Iraq's first elections, planned for early next year. Administration officials say that until a caretaker government is formed, there can be no final negotiations on a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at conferring legitimacy on the Iraqi government and on a multinational force led by American commanders. In a separate development on Tuesday, a difference of perspectives emerged between the United States and Britain over exactly how much power the new Iraqi government would have over its own security forces and over the multinational forces. Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain said Tuesday that Iraqi leaders would have an effective veto, not only over their own participation in military operations, but also over American operations aimed at insurgencies in places like Falluja, a center of resistance activity. In saying so, Mr. Blair went further in emphasizing Iraq's authority over military affairs than any American official had. "If there's a political decision as to whether you go into a place like Falluja in a particular way, that has got to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government," he said at a news conference in London. "That's what the transfer of sovereignty means." But in Washington on Tuesday, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell declined to say there would be any veto by the Iraqis, emphasizing instead that there would be consultations before any military action. "Obviously we would take into account whatever they might say at a political or military level," Mr. Powell told reporters at the State Department. "And to make sure that that happens, we will be creating coordinating bodies, political coordinating bodies and military-to-military coordinating bodies so that there is transparency with respect to what we are doing." Still, American and British officials insisted that there was not a material difference in the two positions. Iraqi objections would in most cases block a major military action by the United States, the officials said, but the United States under some circumstances like pursuing a known terrorist would override Iraqi objections. "Instead of imagining vetoes or hypothetical conflicts," a British official said, "we should be looking at what the Iraqi defense minister is saying, which is that the decisions will be taken through consultation and partnership." The search for a prime minister and other top aides in the caretaker government has been led by Lakhdar Brahimi, a United Nations special envoy, and Robert D. Blackwill, President Bush's envoy in Iraq. A senior administration official said from Baghdad that no final decision had been made on the top jobs in the government but that Mr. Blackwill and Mr. Brahimi were closing in on their choices. "We're down to a handful of names for each of the positions, and in some cases a smaller number than that," the official said. Other people close to the process said Dr. Shahristani had recently emerged as a compromise choice for prime minister among various groups, including the dominant Shiites and rival factions among the Kurds, Sunnis and others. "Shahristani is a really good choice," said an Iraqi familiar with the selection process. "He was head of Iraq's nuclear program when Saddam gathered them all in a room and told them they were going to build a bomb. In that meeting, Shahristani said no, and he spent 10 years in Abu Ghraib." He escaped into exile in London at the time of the first Persian Gulf war in 1991, and from there led a relief group that assisted Iraqi refugees. Another advantage of selecting Dr. Shahristani, according to various officials, is that he is considered a devout but moderate Shiite and is close to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most respected Shiite cleric in Iraq. Mr. Brahimi and Mr. Blackwill are said to have been trying to make sure that the job of prime minister, the most important post in the new caretaker government, is filled by a Shiite. For the largely ceremonial post of president, Bush administration officials have said the United States favors Adnan Pachachi, a former foreign minister of Iraq. Mr. Pachachi is a Sunni who has little popular following but has won respect for his work in the American-picked Iraqi Governing Council. There will be two vice presidents, also in largely ceremonial posts, and a cabinet of up to 26 members that is expected to include both nonpolitical leaders and also representatives of various constituent groups. The uncertainty and difficulties over setting up a caretaker government with only five weeks to go before self-rule is established has created confusion at the Security Council and even among some Iraqi leaders, who charge that the United States has not committed itself to full sovereignty at all. The confusion over the precise nature of Iraqi control over Iraq's military and over the actions of foreign forces after June 30 has also pervaded the debate at the United Nations Security Council, where the United States and Britain submitted a draft resolution on the issue on Monday. French, German, Russian and Chinese envoys are all demanding that Iraqi sovereignty be more explicitly laid out than what was outlined in the resolution, according to United Nations diplomats. A European diplomat said the American-British draft needed to spell out the issues of authority over security and also Iraqi authority over oil revenues, finances and the running of ministries. Also needing to be clarified, European and United Nations diplomats said, is the extent to which American military officers or contractors will be immune from prosecution by Iraqi courts. A senior diplomat from a country on the Security Council complained recently that the United States needed to provide consistent signals about Iraqi sovereignty. As an example, he said Mr. Powell's recent statement that the United States would pull its forces out if asked after June 30 was at odds with Mr. Bush's statement that the United States would persevere and not allow itself to be driven from Iraq. "It's a complete contradiction," the diplomat said. Patrick E. Tyler contributed reporting from London for this article, and Warren Hoge from the United Nations. Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company | Home | Privacy Policy | Search | Corrections | Help | Back to Top ------------ Daniel O'Huiginn do227@ cam.ac.uk 07745 192426 01223 704075 M13, Queens College ------------ End of casi-news Digest _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk