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09/04/2003
UN role uncertain after Anglo-US summit
The question over any future role of the UN in post-conflict Iraq was addressed but not answered today, following Tony Blair and President Bush's summit in Belfast over the past 24 hours.
The leaders of the Coalition stressed that the UN would have a "vital role to play in the reconstruction of Iraq", but the nature of that vital role was not clearly defined.
In the interim period, the Coalition's leaders pledged to "eliminate the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, deliver humanitarian aid, and secure the freedom of the Iraqi people". The flow of humanitarian aid would "increase as more of Iraq's territory is liberated" and UN specialised agencies and non-governmental organizations are better able to operate.
According to the Anglo-US declaration: "As the Coalition proceeds with the reconstruction of Iraq, it will work with its allies, bilateral donors, and with the United Nations and other international institutions."
However, in the joint statement, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush said that the future of Iraq "belongs to the Iraqi people".
The joint communiqué added: "We support the aspirations of all of Iraq's people for a united, representative government that upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones of democracy. We reaffirm our commitment to protect Iraq's natural resources, as the patrimony of the people of Iraq, which should be used only for their benefit."
The US National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice has already said that lead role in post-conflict Iraq would be taken by nations which had expended "life and blood" in the removal of Saddam's regime.
Elsewhere, the bodies of 10 British soldiers killed as a result of the Iraq conflict were flown back to the UK today. Each coffin, draped in a Union Jack, were unloaded from the transport aircraft during a ceremony at RAF Brize-Norton at lunchtime today. There have been a total of 31 British personnel killed in the Gulf throughout the 20 days of conflict. The US is estimated to have lost around 100 soldiers.
(GMcG)
The leaders of the Coalition stressed that the UN would have a "vital role to play in the reconstruction of Iraq", but the nature of that vital role was not clearly defined.
In the interim period, the Coalition's leaders pledged to "eliminate the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, deliver humanitarian aid, and secure the freedom of the Iraqi people". The flow of humanitarian aid would "increase as more of Iraq's territory is liberated" and UN specialised agencies and non-governmental organizations are better able to operate.
According to the Anglo-US declaration: "As the Coalition proceeds with the reconstruction of Iraq, it will work with its allies, bilateral donors, and with the United Nations and other international institutions."
However, in the joint statement, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush said that the future of Iraq "belongs to the Iraqi people".
The joint communiqué added: "We support the aspirations of all of Iraq's people for a united, representative government that upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones of democracy. We reaffirm our commitment to protect Iraq's natural resources, as the patrimony of the people of Iraq, which should be used only for their benefit."
The US National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice has already said that lead role in post-conflict Iraq would be taken by nations which had expended "life and blood" in the removal of Saddam's regime.
Elsewhere, the bodies of 10 British soldiers killed as a result of the Iraq conflict were flown back to the UK today. Each coffin, draped in a Union Jack, were unloaded from the transport aircraft during a ceremony at RAF Brize-Norton at lunchtime today. There have been a total of 31 British personnel killed in the Gulf throughout the 20 days of conflict. The US is estimated to have lost around 100 soldiers.
(GMcG)
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Pressure grows for UN inspection role in Iraq
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Pressure grows for UN inspection role in Iraq
UN inspection teams could yet play a key role in searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Chief United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix says that UN inspectors could assist coalition forces to search for weapons in Iraq. Mr Blix told the BBC that although no weapons had been found it was "too early" to rule out their existence.
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