Understanding reached by U.N. Perm 5 reps on power transfer to Iraqis

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says the views of the permanent members of the Security Council are beginning to converge on the details of a new resolution on Iraq, especially on the issue of a timetable for self-governance.
 
"I'm pleased, and I think my colleagues in the P-5 [permanent five members] are pleased, that we're seeing some convergence of view with respect to a resolution," Powell said September 25.
 
Powell said that there was now a "common understanding" that there needs to be "a democratic political process that rests on the constitution and elections that flow from that constitution" for an orderly transition to Iraqi self-government.
 
"We'll be working on language in the days ahead that tries to capture as much of that convergence as possible and see what we are able to come to agreement on," the secretary said.
 
The permanent members -- China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States -- hold veto power on the 15-member Security Council. On September 25 they held their annual lunch with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
 
Powell said that the group also had "a good discussion" on the role of the secretary general and his representative in Iraq with regard to the country's political process, and how such a role should be captured in the resolution. He said that references would also be made to the report the secretary general gave to the Security Council a few months ago laying out some of the responsibilities that could be taken on by the United Nations.
 
"Of course resolution 1483 also laid out some responsibilities for the secretary general," Powell pointed out.
 
Resolution 1483, passed in May, gave the secretary general and his special representative roles in providing humanitarian aid, facilitating the return to representative government, and protection of human rights.

Powell said the foreign ministers did not talk about a timetable "in terms of weeks, months or how many months."
 
The draft resolution proposed by the United States "would invite the [Iraqi] Governing Council to come up with a plan and a timetable," Powell noted.
 
He said Coalition Provisional Authority administrator Paul Bremer "suggested some timelines and we'll wait and see what the resolution says and how the Governing Council responds to the invitation that will be in the resolution."
 
"I'm sure [the Governing Council members are] thinking about it. I'm sure they are working on it. But we didn't get into those details today," Powell said.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)