A bit of bitching about dates.
Wish we knew what they were REALLY talking about.
-------------------------------
Pressure grows on Iraq resolution
Iraq's new foreign minister meets the Security Council on Thursday
France, Russia and China have expressed reservations on the latest draft of the United Nations resolution on the transfer of power in Iraq.
The US-British resolution said the mandate of foreign troops in Iraq would end on "completion of the political process", possibly by the end of 2005.
But French President Jacques Chirac said more work was needed on the text.
He said it should focus on affirming full sovereignty of Iraq's government, "notably in military matters".
DRAFT RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
Maps out the handover to a sovereign Iraqi government by 30 June
Provides for a US-led multinational force, with authority to take all necessary measures for security, while setting a date for the end of its mandate
Grants Iraq full control over its own natural resources while temporarily maintaining international control over its oil revenue fund
Text: Draft resolution
New hope, old obstacles
Russia and China, which along with France have a veto at the UN Security Council, have echoed his comments.
The newly appointed foreign minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, will comment on the resolution when he meets the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The BBC's UN correspondent says several countries would like the resolution to spell out more clearly who will control security after the handover.
The draft gives a US-led multinational force authority to take all necessary measures for security but envisages a date for the end of its mandate when a fully elected Iraqi government is in place in January 2006.
'Further consultations'
BBC News Online world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says this is being widely interpreted as meaning that the force would withdraw then, but it would be open to the elected government to ask some of the force to stay.
IRAQ SELF-RULE TIMETABLE
30 June: Handover from Coalition Provisional Authority to interim government
End of Jan 2005: Elections to National Assembly
Autumn 2005: New constitution voted on in referendum
December 2005: Full elections for new government
January 2006: Directly elected government takes office
Q&A: Iraq handover
Quarrel over appointments
The new plan also stresses that the new government will have full control over Iraqi security forces - an area where some members of the Security Council had wanted clarification.
The coalition says the relationship between the Iraqi government and the force will be spelled out in letters and does not belong in the resolution.
China's UN Ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the restoration of "full sovereignty has not been fully reflected" in the text.
According to Reuters news agency, Russia said it was taking a constructive approach towards the draft, but needed to be satisfied about the planned handover.
A German foreign ministry spokeswoman said Berlin saw "a need for further consultations".
Spain, whose former leader Jose Maria Aznar backed the US-led invasion until his party lost to the anti-war Socialist Party in elections in March, also had reservations.
"Efforts are under way to pin a final date on the presence of the multi-national force (in Iraq) and that is a good thing," said foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.
"But we have to see how and also what language is used. Elements... need improving."
'Tough task'
More talks are expected on the resolution before the Security Council reaches a decision.
Meanwhile, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has admitted Iraq's new interim government faces a difficult task in preparing the country for full democracy.
In his first comments since the cabinet was sworn in, Mr Brahimi said it would "have its work cut out for it".
"It will not be easy for them to prove the sceptics wrong, but I know they will try their very best," he said.
The new leadership will take power from the US-run Coalition Provisional Authority on 30 June and will run the country until elections can be held early next year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3771833.stm
Wish we knew what they were REALLY talking about.
-------------------------------
Pressure grows on Iraq resolution
Iraq's new foreign minister meets the Security Council on Thursday
France, Russia and China have expressed reservations on the latest draft of the United Nations resolution on the transfer of power in Iraq.
The US-British resolution said the mandate of foreign troops in Iraq would end on "completion of the political process", possibly by the end of 2005.
But French President Jacques Chirac said more work was needed on the text.
He said it should focus on affirming full sovereignty of Iraq's government, "notably in military matters".
DRAFT RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
Maps out the handover to a sovereign Iraqi government by 30 June
Provides for a US-led multinational force, with authority to take all necessary measures for security, while setting a date for the end of its mandate
Grants Iraq full control over its own natural resources while temporarily maintaining international control over its oil revenue fund
Text: Draft resolution
New hope, old obstacles
Russia and China, which along with France have a veto at the UN Security Council, have echoed his comments.
The newly appointed foreign minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, will comment on the resolution when he meets the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The BBC's UN correspondent says several countries would like the resolution to spell out more clearly who will control security after the handover.
The draft gives a US-led multinational force authority to take all necessary measures for security but envisages a date for the end of its mandate when a fully elected Iraqi government is in place in January 2006.
'Further consultations'
BBC News Online world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says this is being widely interpreted as meaning that the force would withdraw then, but it would be open to the elected government to ask some of the force to stay.
IRAQ SELF-RULE TIMETABLE
30 June: Handover from Coalition Provisional Authority to interim government
End of Jan 2005: Elections to National Assembly
Autumn 2005: New constitution voted on in referendum
December 2005: Full elections for new government
January 2006: Directly elected government takes office
Q&A: Iraq handover
Quarrel over appointments
The new plan also stresses that the new government will have full control over Iraqi security forces - an area where some members of the Security Council had wanted clarification.
The coalition says the relationship between the Iraqi government and the force will be spelled out in letters and does not belong in the resolution.
China's UN Ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the restoration of "full sovereignty has not been fully reflected" in the text.
According to Reuters news agency, Russia said it was taking a constructive approach towards the draft, but needed to be satisfied about the planned handover.
A German foreign ministry spokeswoman said Berlin saw "a need for further consultations".
Spain, whose former leader Jose Maria Aznar backed the US-led invasion until his party lost to the anti-war Socialist Party in elections in March, also had reservations.
"Efforts are under way to pin a final date on the presence of the multi-national force (in Iraq) and that is a good thing," said foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.
"But we have to see how and also what language is used. Elements... need improving."
'Tough task'
More talks are expected on the resolution before the Security Council reaches a decision.
Meanwhile, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has admitted Iraq's new interim government faces a difficult task in preparing the country for full democracy.
In his first comments since the cabinet was sworn in, Mr Brahimi said it would "have its work cut out for it".
"It will not be easy for them to prove the sceptics wrong, but I know they will try their very best," he said.
The new leadership will take power from the US-run Coalition Provisional Authority on 30 June and will run the country until elections can be held early next year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3771833.stm
