Larson says US goal is a whole, free, peaceful Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/11/2003

U.S. and coalition partners engaged in the liberation of Iraq are laying the groundwork to help Iraqis build a country that is whole, peaceful, free of weapons of mass destruction, no longer a haven for terrorists, and moving toward democracy, U.S. Under Secretary of State Alan Larson says.

Briefing reporters April 10 at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, Larson said a near-term goal is creation of an interim authority that would be run by Iraqis until the Iraqi people are able to establish a permanent government.

"We have in mind a broad-based interim authority that would draw from all of the religious and ethnic groups, including Iraqis that are inside Iraq now, as well as those that are outside Iraq," he said.

He also reaffirmed the U.S. belief that the United Nations has a "vital role" to play in Iraq that includes, but is not limited to, the provision of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies.

United Nations involvement "can include coordinating international contributions to help the Iraqi people as well as providing help for the process of forming the Iraqi interim authority," Larson said.

The Bush administration will seek new U.N. Security Council resolutions to affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, ensure the rapid delivery of aid, and endorse a post-conflict administration for Iraq, Larson said.

U.S. officials welcome the recent decision by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to establish a special advisor on Iraq to work with Iraqis and coalition representatives, Larson said. He added that subsequent consultations would determine the "precise role" to be played by the United Nations.

He also said that "the coalition, naturally, will have the leading role for a period of time in order to ensure that essential services are provided to the Iraqi people."

In response to a question, Larson said there was no "timetable" for lifting U.N. sanctions against Iraq or for re-starting the "Oil-for-Food" program, but he said "there is certainly a case for addressing those issues just as quickly as they can be addressed."

Previous Stories:
  Rumsfeld briefs on the latest development in Iraq   (4/10/2003)
  Iraq: a new educational system   (4/10/2003)
  Jalabi and the provisional government in Iraq   (4/9/2003)

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