Schröder Welcomes Iraq UN Resolution

German Chancellor Schröder welcomes new Iraq resolution

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted an amended resolution on the future of Iraq. All fifteen members of the Security Council voted for the US-British resolution, approving the transfer of power to a sovereign interim government in Iraq on June 30 and regulating the further transition process.

The resolution was approved on June 8 after the United States and Great Britain ceded to pressure from Germany, France, Russia, and China to grant the interim government more rights. A number of leaders, including Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President George W. Bush, welcomed the passage of the new resolution.

Strong support in the Security Council

Schröder, who is currently at the G8 summit in the United States, commented that an agreement had been reached on the fullest possible transfer of power to the Iraqi interim government. He added that the resolution constitutes a good basis for promoting stability in the region.

The German government praised the job done by the UN special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, saying that he had highlighted the importance of the United Nations role within a short period of time and under difficult conditions and had made a key contribution to the political process in Iraq in connection with the formation of the interim government and the appointment of ministers.

End of mandate for multinational force

Under the resolution the mandate for the US-led multinational force in Iraq ends automatically when the a democratic government has been constitutionally elected (at the latest in December 2005 or in January 2006) or if termination of the mandate is requested by an elected transitional government (presumably in office as of January 2005). The mandate can be reviewed by the Security Council, either automatically twelve months after adoption of the resolution, or earlier if the Iraqi interim government so requests.

More rights for Iraqi government

In the final phase of negotiations on the new Iraq resolution an agreement had not yet been reached among the members of the Security Council on the nature of the relationship between the interim government (or the later-to-be-elected transitional government) and the US-led multinational force (MNF). The German government was among those demanding a larger say for the Iraqi government.

On this point the United States and Great Britain moved closer to the positions taken by the other members of the Security Council, redefining the relationship in favor of the Iraqis. Article 11 of the resolution states that arrangements are being put in place to establish a security partnership between the sovereign government of Iraq and the MNF. To strengthen this security partnership coordination bodies are to be created at national, regional, and local levels to ensure that Iraqi security forces will coordinate with the MNF on all security policy and operations issues. Full partnership is to be ensured between Iraqi security forces and the MNF through close coordination and consultation.

This compromise by the United States and Great Britain resulted in the amended resolution being adopted unanimously.

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