NEW YORK, 11 August 2003 — President George W. Bush’s administration wants to introduce a UN Security Council resolution this week establishing a UN mission to oversee the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing UN diplomats.
The administration hopes the resolution, if passed, will increase the legitimacy of the 25-member body and the perception that the United Nations is playing an important role in Iraq, the daily said. But UN diplomats said it would grant little new authority to the international body, which already has a mandate to contribute to humanitarian relief and the reconstruction of Iraq.
British Secretary of State for International Development Valerie Amos had indicated Saturday that the United States was drawing up proposals for a new UN resolution endorsing the reconstruction of Iraq, and said Britain was in favor. Top US Middle East diplomat William Burns sidestepped the issue in a press conference during a visit to Russia Thursday.
“We are continuing to take a careful look at how we can work together in the Security Council to build on” previous UN resolutions on Iraq, Burns, an assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said at a joint appearance with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov.
On the same day Russia repeated its calls for a new UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, saying such a step would legitimize the US-installed temporary government there.
