France Find US Draft Resolution on Iraq Insufficient
Douglas Bakshian
The leaders of Germany and France say a U.S.
draft resolution before the U.N. Security Council seeking money and
troops from all nations to help rebuild Iraq does not do enough to put
the United Nations at the center of Iraq's reconstruction.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder say the draft does not give the United Nations a large
enough role in post-war Iraq, and also does not meet the goal of turning
over political responsibility to the Iraqi people.
However, the leaders, who held an informal meeting
in Dresden, Germany, Thursday say they hope Washington will be open
to changes in the resolution. Both France and Germany strongly opposed
the Iraq war, and France has a veto on the Security Council.
Mr. Chirac says the two leaders are ready to
study the draft resolution, but they believe it falls short on their
key priority - the transfer of political responsibility to a new Iraqi
government as quickly as possible.
Mr. Schroeder says the proposal shows movement
in the U.S. position, but does not go far enough. He says France and
Germany want to help bring stability and democracy to Iraq, but this
can only come about if the United Nations takes over responsibility
for the political process.
The United States has offered a draft resolution
that would authorize an expanded multinational force in Iraq, as Washington
seeks troops and money from all nations. The United States would not
give up political or military control of Iraq under the draft. The Bush
administration is insisting that any expanded military mission in Iraq,
even if put under the U.N. flag, will remain under the command of an
American general.
U.S. officials say the administration plans
to ask the United Nations to transform the U.S.-led force in Iraq into
a multinational force, and to play a key role in establishing an Iraqi
government.
India, Russia, France, and other countries refuse
to contribute soldiers to Iraq unless a multinational force is approved
by the United Nations.
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