The U.N. Security Council voted 15-0 on Tuesday to adopt a U.S.-British resolution that formally ends the occupation of Iraq on June 30 and authorizes U.S.-led troops to keep the peace. In a packed council chamber, the 15-nation body endorsed a "sovereign interim government" in Iraq, following two weeks of negotiations and a last-minute addition by the United States and Britain on military policy to meet France’s concerns.
| "Sacre bleu! Mr. Baker has that in his briefcase? We vote 'oui'!" |
"With today’s vote, we acknowledge an important milestone. By June 30, Iraq will reassert its sovereignty, a step forward on the path toward a democratically elected government," said U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, who will become ambassador to Iraq at the end of the month.
The resolution paves the way for elections by giving a timetable for the polls -- no later than Jan. 31, 2005. It puts Iraq in charge of its oil proceeds and calls for the United Nations to help with elections, a constitution and many other tasks. It also gives the Iraqi interim government the right to order U.S. troops to leave at any time and makes clear the mandate of the international force will expire by the end of January 2006.
U.S. officials believe the unanimous passage of the Security Council resolution was accelerated an endorsement from visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. "That’s what really caused the end of the debate," said a senior State Department official.
Control of the 160,000 U.S.-led troops was the most contentious issue in the resolution, which authorizes a multinational force under American command to "use all necessary measures" to prevent violence. At the insistence of France and others, the resolution includes a pledge by the United States for a military "partnership" and coordination with Iraq’s leaders on "sensitive offensive operations." But it does not say what happens in case of a disagreement, prompting France, Germany, Algeria and others to propose Iraq had the right to block a major U.S. campaign. The United States rejected this demand.
France’s ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said he was satisfied with the text but would have preferred the text "spell out what would happen in event of a disagreement."
| I would prefer to disclose the contents of Mr. Baker's briefcase, but ya can't have everything, my pappy says. |
"I think it shows the international community coming together again in their rage and impotence to support the Iraqi people in their efforts to build a country that rests on the foundations of democracy and freedom and the rights of all so that they can try to cut a deal," Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Washington. |