Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

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US plans to give UN key role in rebuilding of Iraq

By James Harding and Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: March 5 2003 4:00 / Last Updated: March 5 2003 4:00

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=104....

The US and its allies are working on post-war plans for Iraq that would give the UN a central role in the country's reconstruction.

Security Council diplomats and Bush administration officials say the US and UK are drafting a UN resolution to establish a "day-after framework for UN involvement". This would adjust the oil-for-food programme to enable humanitarian assistance in post-Saddam Iraq.

Officials said the proposal could be tabled following the vote, expected next week, on a separate UN resolution authorising war.

The Bush administration has been split over the role of the UN in post-war Iraq. The current plans - as explained by officials - diverge from previous policy statements, which set out a clear role for the US military in running a post-war Iraq but left unanswered the question of UN involvement.

The Bush administration expects the international community to become involved in post-war Iraq plans even if the US goes to war without specific UN authorisation.

Jay Garner, the retired general appointed by the Pentagon to lead the Defense Department's work on post-war reconstruction and the man expected to be the US choice as administrator in the immediate aftermath of war, visited New York this week to discuss the role of the UN.

A Security Council diplomat said: "The visit was in itself a big part of the message. The US wants international involvement and wants to talk and plan with the UN."

Senior administration officials are keen to emphasise that the UN will be given a role shortly after the fighting ends.

"You will see Garner move from that job [as post-war administrator] quite quickly," one official said, suggesting the US is keen to see the UN move in much as it did in Afghanistan.

The advocates of a UN approach in the Bush administration and among America's allies would like to see the appointment of a UN executive administrator, who would oversee the rebuilding of the country, and a UN civil administrator to develop the architecture for a new Iraqi government with commissions involving Iraqis now in opposition.