US drafts UN Iraq resolution

02 October 2003
The US has drafted a new UN resolution, which is due to be presented to the UN Security Council on 2 October. The new resolution is a second attempt to persuade members to answer US calls for international assistance in Iraq. The document stresses that need of a UN-backed multinational peacekeeping force in the country. The draft also attempts to address some of the issues that countries opposed in the previous US-drafted resolution (MEED 26:9:03). 'We [have] listened very carefully to what we have heard over the last few weeks,' said US State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher. 'We have incorporated many of the ideas and suggestions that we have heard from others.' Objections to the previous draft were led by France, which said that the resolution did not outline a specific timetable for the handover of power, nor give the UN sufficient authority in Iraq. Critics of the revised resolution say that it still leaves too much power in the hands of US authorities and fails to set a deadline for a transfer of authority. (See text below).

Draft resolution on Iraq:

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Iraq, including resolution 1483 (2003) of 22 May 2003 and 1500 (2003) of 14 August 2003, and on threats to peace and security caused by terrorist acts, including resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, and other relevant resolutions,

Affirming that the terrorist bombings of the Embassy of Jordan on 7 August 2003, of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, and of the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf on 29 August 2003, are attacks on the people of Iraq, the United Nations, and the international community,

Recalling and reaffirming the Statement of its President of 20 August 2003 (S/PRST/2003/13) and resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003,

Underscoring that the sovereignty of Iraq resides in the state of Iraq, reaffirming the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future and control their own natural resources, reiterating its resolve that the day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly, and recognising the importance of international support, particularly that of countries in the region, Iraq's neighbours, and regional organisations, in taking forward this process expeditiously,

Recognising that international support for restoration of conditions of stability and security is essential to the well-being of the people of Iraq as well as to the ability of all concerned to carry out their work on behalf of the people of Iraq, and welcoming Member State contributions in this regard under resolution 1483 (2003),

Welcoming the decision of the Governing Council of Iraq to form a preparatory constitutional committee to prepare for a constitutional conference that will draft a constitution to embody the aspirations of the Iraqi people, and urging it to complete this process quickly,

Determining that the situation in Iraq, although improved, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Expresses deep sympathy and condolences for the personal losses suffered by the Iraqi people and by the United Nations and the families of those United Nations personnel and other innocent victims who were killed or injured in these tragic attacks;

2. Unequivocally condemns the terrorist bombings of the Embassy of Jordan on 7 August 2003, of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, and of the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf on 29 August 2003, and emphasises that those responsible must be brought to justice;

3. Calls upon Member States to prevent the transit of terrorists to Iraq, arms for terrorists, and financing that would support terrorists, and emphasises the importance of strengthening the co-operation of the countries of the region, particularly neighbours of Iraq, in this regard;

4. Resolves that the United Nations, acting through the Secretary-General, his Special Representative, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq, should strengthen its vital role in Iraq, including by providing humanitarian relief, promoting the economic reconstruction of and conditions for sustainable development in Iraq, and advancing efforts to restore and establish national and local institutions for representative government, as set out in relevant paragraphs of resolutions 1483 (2003) and 1500 (2003), and for this purpose encourages the Secretary-General to pursue the course of action outlined in paragraphs 98 and 99 of the Report of the Secretary-General of 17 July 2003 (S/2003/715);

5. Reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, and underscores, in that context, the temporary nature of the exercise by the Coalition Provisional Authority (Authority) of the specific responsibilities, authorities, and obligations under applicable international law recognised and set forth in resolution 1483 (2003), until an internationally recognised, representative government is established by the people of Iraq and assumes the responsibilities of the Authority;

6. Welcomes the positive response of the international community, in particular by the Arab League on 9 September 2003, to the establishment of the broadly representative Governing Council as an important step towards an internationally recognised, representative government;

7. Supports the Governing Council's efforts to mobilise the people of Iraq, including by the appointment of a cabinet of ministers and a preparatory constitutional committee to lead a process in which the Iraqi people will progressively take control of their own affairs;

8. Affirms that the administration of Iraq will be progressively undertaken by the evolving structures of the Iraqi interim administration, and to that end, calls upon the Authority to continue its practice of transferring as quickly as practicable effective and substantial executive responsibility;

9. Invites the Governing Council to provide in co-operation with the Authority and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General a timetable and a program for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections under that constitution;

10. Requests the Authority, in co-operation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to assist the Governing Council in the implementation of the above timetable and program, including by facilitating national dialogue and consensus building on the political transition process, the establishment of electoral processes, and assisting the Iraqi interim administration to rejoin the international community;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the resources of the United Nations and associated organisations are available, if requested by the Iraqi Governing Council, to help establish an electoral process in Iraq in furtherance of the program provided by the Governing Council in paragraph nine above, and encourages other organisations with expertise in this area to support the Iraqi Governing Council, if requested;

12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the work of the Special Representative with respect to his responsibilities under this resolution, including the development of a timetable and program under paragraph nine, and the implementation thereof;

13. Determines that the provision of security and stability is essential to the successful completion of the political process as outlined in paragraph nine above and to the ability of the United Nations to contribute effectively to that process and the implementation of resolution 1483 (2003), and authorises a multinational force under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq, including for the purpose of ensuring necessary conditions for the implementation of the timetable and program as well as to contribute to the security of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, the Governing Council of Iraq and other institutions of the Iraqi interim administration, and key humanitarian and economic infrastructure;

14. Urges Member States to contribute assistance under this United Nations mandate, including military forces, to the multinational force referred to in paragraph thirteen above;

15. Decides that the Council shall review the requirements and mission of the multinational forces referred to in paragraph thirteen above when an internationally recognised, representative government is established by the people of Iraq and assumes the responsibilities of the Authority;

16. Emphasises the importance of establishing effective Iraqi police and security forces in maintaining law, order, and security and combating terrorism consistent with paragraph four of resolution 1483 (2003), and calls upon Member States and international and regional organisations to contribute to the training and equipping of Iraqi police and security forces;

17. Appeals to Member States and the international financial institutions to strengthen their efforts to assist the people of Iraq in the reconstruction and development of their economy, and urges those institutions to take immediate steps to provide their full range of loans and other financial assistance to Iraq, working with the Governing Council as the principal body of the Iraqi interim administration, and appropriate Iraqi ministries;

18. Urges Member States and international and regional organisations to support the Iraq reconstruction effort initiated at the 24 June 2003 United Nations Technical Consultations, including through substantial pledges at the 23-24 October 2003 International Donors Conference in Madrid;

19. Calls upon Member States and concerned organisations to help meet the needs of the Iraqi people by providing resources necessary for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq's economic infrastructure;

20. Reminds all Member States of their obligations under resolution 1483 (2003) immediately to identify and freeze all funds or other financial assets or economic resources of Iraqi public entities held outside of Iraq on 22 May 2003 under paragraph 23(a) or of Iraqi individuals or private entities held on or after 22 May 2003 under paragraph 23(b) of that resolution, including those Iraqi assets that may have been previously frozen, and cause their transfer in accordance with that paragraph to the Development Fund for Iraq for the benefit of the Iraqi people;

21. Requests that the United States, on behalf of the multinational force as outlined in paragraph thirteen above, report to the Security Council on the efforts and progress or this force as appropriate and not less than every six months;

22. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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