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Blair says whole world will be involved { May 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.inq7.net/brk/2004/jun/09/brkafp_1-1.htmhttp://www.inq7.net/brk/2004/jun/09/brkafp_1-1.htm
US, Britain win crucial UN
victory on Iraq's future
Posted: 7:46 AM (Manila Time) | Jun. 09, 2004
Agence France-Presse
UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council unanimously backed a US-British resolution on Iraq's future Tuesday in a major step to healing the deep international divisions over the war that brought down Saddam Hussein.
Capping weeks of negotiations, the council voted 15-0 in favor of the resolution endorsing the new government that will take over June 30 and setting out a timetable leading to democratic elections next year.
"With today's vote we acknowledge an important milestone," said John Negroponte, the US ambassador to the United Nations. "This resolution makes clear that Iraq's sovereignty will be undiluted."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We all now want to put the divisions of the past behind us and unite behind the vision of a modern, democratic and stable Iraq that can be a force for good, not just for Iraqis but for the whole region and thus the whole world."
The resolution gives international legitimacy to the caretaker government that will take over from the US-led occupation, and pledges Iraq will be "fully sovereign" to run its national affairs.
"The resolution gives this Iraqi government the best possible start as it leads Iraq out of occupation," said British ambassador Emyr Jones Parry.
But it also authorizes US-led troops to remain at Iraq's request, and gives them leeway to take "all necessary measures" in fighting the bloody insurgency that has undercut US efforts to stabilize the country.
In Iraq, two suicide attacks killed 12 people and wounded dozens, and the violence is expected to continue after the fledgling government takes office at the end of the month.
The extent of Baghdad's control over military operations emerged as the main sticking point in negotiations, with the United States and Britain refusing a call by France and others to give Iraq a veto over major offensives.
But Washington offered a compromise in lengthy talks Monday, adding a pledge to coordinate "sensitive" military operations with a national security committee headed by new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
France and Germany announced they would back the measure after that pledge, clearing the way for the unanimous support that the United States and Britain wanted to signal strong international backing for its plans.
Several diplomats praised the United States and Britain for their willingness to compromise after the allies put forward four different versions of the resolution in response to the concerns of council members.
With the United States forced to turn to the United Nations to shore up its handover plan, China said events in Iraq had shown the importance of global cooperation.
"Major international issues need collective wisdom," Chinese ambassador Wang Guangya said. "This is a necessity of history and reality, and is the only viable choice of the international community.
The wide-ranging resolution touches on almost all aspects of Iraq's reconstruction, aiming to rebuild a nation devastated by the war, a decade of sanctions and the long years of Saddam's iron-fisted rule.
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