default header
03/27/2003
Coalition Goal: Turning Post-Conflict Iraq Over to Civilians
U.N. should assist through Oil-for-Food Program, State Dept. says
One goal of the U.S.-led coalition fighting in Iraq is to turn over the post-conflict administration of the country to the Iraqi people as soon as possible, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters March 27.
Boucher noted that coalition partners have suggested that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan be given interim authority to ensure that humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people continue to be met through the U.N. oil-for-food program.
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are urging the United Nations Security Council to approve a new oil-for-food resolution for Iraq, Boucher said. The oil-for-food program, started in 1996, allows Iraq to sell oil to pay for food and medicine. The new resolution would allow the coalition to prepare supplies for distribution in coming weeks and months, he said.
While details of the resolution and the U.N.'s involvement in the relief and reconstruction of Iraq were still being discussed by members of the 15-nation Security Council, "there is a U.N. role in the post-conflict situation in Iraq," Boucher said.
The United States does not support a provisional government by opposition Iraqis living outside the country, the spokesman said.
He added that creating a new Iraq government before the country is liberated from the Hussein regime would "disenfranchise" most Iraqis.
Once the conflict is over, the coalition's intent is to establish an interim authority to help with the transition to a legitimate government brought about by free and fair elections.
Choosing an interim authority will be determined after the military conflict ceases and will be done in consultation with Iraqis, he said.
"Iraq's future needs to be decided by the broadest possible grouping of Iraqis," from inside and outside the country, "reflecting Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious makeup," Boucher said.
Boucher noted that on March 26 Turkish Army Chief of Staff General Hilmi Ozok said that country would not initiate any uncoordinated troop movements into Iraq. The United States, he said, has been working with groups from northern Iraq to ensure a situation does not arise in northern Iraq that would concern Turkey to the extent it would want to send its troops there.
The number of countries in the coalition is nearing 50, Boucher said. He added that the coalition includes both countries that prefer to be named and those that prefer to be unnamed.
"There are many countries in the world that are cooperating in helping in ending Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq, disarming Iraq and leading to a better future for the Iraqi government," Boucher said.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
