USA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL PREDICTS A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON IRAQ IN THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL

Record ID: 222857

  • Title: USA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL PREDICTS A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON IRAQ IN THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
  • Date: 8th June 2004
  • Summary: (U6) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 8, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ARRIVING AT A HOTEL FOR A MEETING WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT GHAZI AL-YAWER/PULL IN MCU (English) POWELL RESPONDING TO A REPORTER'S QUESTION ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON IRAQ: "Well, I am expecting a very satisfactory vote this afternoon. The indications I received from my French and German colleagues is that they will be voting for it as well. So I would expect that it will be a very good vote and I think it shows the international community coming together again to support the Iraqi people in their efforts to build a country that rests on a foundation of democracy and freedom and the rights of all. And I think this is a very important development and a very good day for the Iraqi people. (Reporter: What does this mean for the post-June 30 period, about the role of the international community?) I think it makes it clear that the international community is invited to participate in the reconstruction effort to help with debt relief, to help with additional funding for Iraqi reconstruction efforts. It makes clear what the role of the coalition forces, with respect to the interim Iraqi government. And you will see that the Iraqi interim government is the sovereign. The CPA will go away. Ambassador Bremer, having done a great job, will leave. Ambassador Negroponte will be there to represent American interests and to help the Iraqi interim government, but sovereignty is being returned. (Reporter: ... and what does this mean--, what kind of signal does this send to the insurgents and others who are challenging the United States?) They are now challenging their own leaders. They are now fighting against the dreams of their own people. The coalition is there to help their government and they are now attacking their own covenant and they are attacking their own interests and the interests of their people and they must be defeated. They cannot be allowed to deny the Iraqi people this hopeful future. They cannot be allowed to drag them into the past, the terrible past that we got rid of last year when we got rid of Saddam Hussein. Thank you." (Reporter: inaudible) I am not a betting man normally and I think it is always wise not to predict the future, but in this case I think we are close to unanimity." 2.05 2. SV POWELL MEETING IRAQI PRESIDENT GHAZI AL-YAWER/PPULL IN MCU (English) IRAQI PRESIDENT GHAZI AL-YAWER RESPONDING TO A REPORTER'S QUESTION ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION: "It means full sovereignty for Iraq. It means a new page in, hopefully, very pleasant Iraqi history. We are counting on our friends, the U.N. and the world community, the international community, to help us in having our sovereignty and assisting us and enhancing our economic situation and helping us also in preserving law and order until we establish our security forces. (Reporter: Mr. President, could you anticipate any situation in which the U.S. and Iraq would be in disagreement on military missions and the U.S. would have to act on its own to protect its troops?) We have to think proactively. We are not going to be pessimistic. We cannot afford to be pessimistic. We are confident that this cooperation will be--, the outcome of it will be very positive and beneficial for the Iraqi nation" 3.24 3. PAN FROM MEDIA TO PRESIDENT GHAZI AL-YAWER ANSWERING REPORTERS QUESTION (Reporter: inaudible) I think it will be in close coordination with the multinational forces. Iraqis will be consulted. We are working together. These people are in our country to help us against bad elements. They are not going to be part of doing negative--, or having negative impact on the Iraqi public, on the law abiding Iraqi citizens."/POWELL AND GHAZI AL-YAWER SHAKING HANDS 3.58 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2004 13:00
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  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAADI2TPCOGH6PT7J68WKM1XHCI
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell predicts a
    unanimous vote on Iraq in the U.N. Security Council


    U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday
    (June 08) predicted a unanimous vote in the U.N. Security
    Council in favour of a U.S.- and British-backed resolution
    on Iraq's future. The unanimous measure seemed assured
    after last-minute changes in the resolution language
    relating to military policy met demands by France and
    Germany.

    "I am not a betting man normally and I think it is
    always wise not to predict the future, but in this case I
    think we are close to unanimity," Powell said.

    The Bush administration was particularly anxious for a
    vote early this week on the official transfer of
    sovereignty to Iraq on June 30 so that disputes over the
    resolution did not overshadow a summit by the Group of
    Eight industrial nations in Sea Island, Georgia.

    The resolution is expected to help patch up deep
    divisions on Iraq, prompted by the U.S.-led invasion,
    opposed by major European nations and most other countries
    around the world. Many diplomats praised the United States
    for taking in their views and not forcing a confrontation.

    The most contentious issue was how much control
    Baghdad's new leaders would have over major U.S.-run
    military operations after the June 30 transfer of power.

    The resolution would give international legitimacy to a new
    Iraqi interim government and authorize a U.S.-led
    multinational force, now at 160,000 troops.

    "Iraqis will be consulted. We are working together.

    These people are in our country to help us against bad
    elements. They are not going to be part of doing
    negative--, or having negative impact on the Iraqi public,
    on the law abiding Iraqi citizens," Iraqi interim president
    Ghazi al-Yawer said during a photocall with Powell.

    Last week the United States and Britain agreed that the
    Iraqi interim government had the right to order U.S. troops
    to leave Iraq and made clear the mandate of the
    multinational force would expire in January 2006, when a
    permanent Iraqi government is expected to take office.

    France, backed by Germany, Algeria and others, then
    proposed the resolution spell out that the new Iraqi
    leaders could exercise a virtual veto over U.S.-led
    "sensitive offensive operations."
    The United States rejected this but agreed late on
    Monday to write a paragraph on security coordination and
    "partnership," the same relationship between Iraq and the
    U.S. command contained in letters between Iraq and the
    United States. The letters are part of the resolution's
    annex but France, Germany, Algeria and others wanted a
    summary in the main text.

    The letters from U.S. Secretary of State Powell and
    Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi pledged that the American
    commander and Iraqi leaders would consult and coordinate
    "fundamental security and policy issues including policy on
    sensitive offensive operations" through a new security
    committee.

    But the letters do not spell out what happens in case
    of a disagreement, prompting France to advocate that Iraq
    had the right to block a major U.S. campaign.


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