KARACHI, 2 May 2004 — Pakistan yesterday took over the presidency of the UN Security Council at a time of deepening crisis in Iraq that is causing grave concern around the world.
It will be the second time Pakistan will assume the presidency during its current two-year term on the Council.
The presidency of the 15-nation Council rotates monthly according to the English alphabetical listing of its member states.
Pakistan plans to hold a special Council meeting on UN peacekeeping operations on May 17. The foreign minister will especially fly to New York to preside over the meeting which will discuss new peacekeeping operations. The Council would assess the financial needs and troops requirements for such operations.
The countries where new peacekeeping operations are being planned include Sudan, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, and Haiti.
In addition, the Security Council may also take up the question of establishing a new UN protection force for Iraq which is expected to include forces from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia, among other countries.
A new resolution on Iraq is expected be debated by the Council in preparation for the withdrawal of the US-led coalition from the country on June 30.
With American casualties in Iraq rising and the war becoming more and more unpopular in the United States, Washington is pushing for UN help, calling on UN member states for financial and troop contributions.
Special UN Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is currently working on the formation of an interim government in Iraq to take over from the coalition, paving the way for the return of the UN, which pulled out of the country after its Baghdad office was bombed killing several international civil servants. The US has already said the new Iraqi dispensation would have limited authority.
Pakistan has already indicated that it would consider sending troops to Iraq under a UN flag. Diplomats said the deteriorating situation in the Middle East will also be debated in the Council.
