UN envoy: Iraq work without US will be more costly
February 17, 2010, 09:21 AM Post Comments
The top U.N. envoy to Iraq warned Tuesday that the organization's continued presence there will come with a higher price tag as the U.S. withdraws troops who have provided security and logistical support to U.N. activities.
Ad Melkert told the Security Council that the Iraqi government is counting on greater United Nations support for its development programs with civilian staff increasingly operating from inside the country, rather than in the region.
But with the U.S. planning to withdraw all combat troops by the end of August ahead of a final pullout in 2011, the loss of American security and logistical support will affect the way the U.N. operates in the country, Melkert said.
"Continued presence, let alone increasing the U.N. footprint in different parts of Iraq, will come with a higher price tag," he warned.
The U.N. pulled out of Iraq after two bombings in 2003, one at its Baghdad headquarters which killed top U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others. The U.N. allowed a small number of international staffers to return in 2004, and the mission has gradually expanded to 315 international civilians and 425 Iraqi civilians, with 225 U.N. troops to protect them in U.N. compounds and the U.S. providing escorts elsewhere.
Melkert said he is already exploring future security, support and logistics arrangements with U.N. headquarters and expects more discussions with the 192 U.N. member states who must approve any budget increases.
With a new Iraqi government expected to start work following March 7 elections, he said the U.N. has an opportunity to transform its primarily humanitarian work "into a more development and policy reform oriented advisory role."
Melkert identified several key areas of U.N. expertise for possible future activities: post-election census and civil registration, broader engagement in trying to resolve internal boundary disputes, reform of Iraq's public distribution system and development of social safety nets, water resources management and trans-border cooperation.
He said he was concerned at the lack of transparency in preparing for next month's elections.
A ban on candidates for links to the outlawed Baath Party, formerly led by Saddam Hussein, is threatening to disrupt the parliamentary elections, and the results could be thrown in dispute if there is a broad perception that minority Sunnis have been politically sidelined.
Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati told the Security Council that the Presidential Council, prime minister and house speaker, at a meeting attended by the head of the Supreme Judicial Authority, agreed that a committee "will review the file of all the 177 candidates excluded from the elections."
But Melkert said that process has been nearly completed and most appeals had been rejected.
In Baghdad, an aide to parliament Speaker Ayad al-Sammaraie said Tuesday night that the leaders have not met since agreeing Feb. 6 to have a seven-judge committee review appeals by the banned candidates.
That committee several days ago upheld the ban against 442 candidates who have been blacklisted by a Shiite-led vetting panel, including 177 who fought the purge instead of dropping out or agreeing to be replaced by alternate party candidates.
In all, only 93 candidates will be allowed to run of the 535 who initially were blacklisted by the Shiite vetting panel.
Additionally, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the judicial panel's decision will not be appealed.
"There is not any decision to form a reviewing committee," al-Dabbagh said.
February 17, 2010, 09:21 AM Post Comments
The top U.N. envoy to Iraq warned Tuesday that the organization's continued presence there will come with a higher price tag as the U.S. withdraws troops who have provided security and logistical support to U.N. activities.
Ad Melkert told the Security Council that the Iraqi government is counting on greater United Nations support for its development programs with civilian staff increasingly operating from inside the country, rather than in the region.
But with the U.S. planning to withdraw all combat troops by the end of August ahead of a final pullout in 2011, the loss of American security and logistical support will affect the way the U.N. operates in the country, Melkert said.
"Continued presence, let alone increasing the U.N. footprint in different parts of Iraq, will come with a higher price tag," he warned.
The U.N. pulled out of Iraq after two bombings in 2003, one at its Baghdad headquarters which killed top U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others. The U.N. allowed a small number of international staffers to return in 2004, and the mission has gradually expanded to 315 international civilians and 425 Iraqi civilians, with 225 U.N. troops to protect them in U.N. compounds and the U.S. providing escorts elsewhere.
Melkert said he is already exploring future security, support and logistics arrangements with U.N. headquarters and expects more discussions with the 192 U.N. member states who must approve any budget increases.
With a new Iraqi government expected to start work following March 7 elections, he said the U.N. has an opportunity to transform its primarily humanitarian work "into a more development and policy reform oriented advisory role."
Melkert identified several key areas of U.N. expertise for possible future activities: post-election census and civil registration, broader engagement in trying to resolve internal boundary disputes, reform of Iraq's public distribution system and development of social safety nets, water resources management and trans-border cooperation.
He said he was concerned at the lack of transparency in preparing for next month's elections.
A ban on candidates for links to the outlawed Baath Party, formerly led by Saddam Hussein, is threatening to disrupt the parliamentary elections, and the results could be thrown in dispute if there is a broad perception that minority Sunnis have been politically sidelined.
Iraq's U.N. Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati told the Security Council that the Presidential Council, prime minister and house speaker, at a meeting attended by the head of the Supreme Judicial Authority, agreed that a committee "will review the file of all the 177 candidates excluded from the elections."
But Melkert said that process has been nearly completed and most appeals had been rejected.
In Baghdad, an aide to parliament Speaker Ayad al-Sammaraie said Tuesday night that the leaders have not met since agreeing Feb. 6 to have a seven-judge committee review appeals by the banned candidates.
That committee several days ago upheld the ban against 442 candidates who have been blacklisted by a Shiite-led vetting panel, including 177 who fought the purge instead of dropping out or agreeing to be replaced by alternate party candidates.
In all, only 93 candidates will be allowed to run of the 535 who initially were blacklisted by the Shiite vetting panel.
Additionally, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the judicial panel's decision will not be appealed.
"There is not any decision to form a reviewing committee," al-Dabbagh said.