Annan does not rule out postponing authority transfer to the Iraqis; Bush results of investigations after the elections
Iraq-UN, Politics, 2/7/2004

In a brief statement he made yesterday the US President George W. Bush announced the formation of a committee to probe pre intelligence information on Iraq's having mass destruction weapons ,which have not so far been found after months of search.

However, in a step which may renew criticism against him, President Bush gave a grace period for the committee to submit its final statement after the presidential elections in November this year.

Meantime, the UN secretary general Kofi Annan announced that June 30th, the set date for authority transfer to the Iraqis, might be postponed if all sides agreed on that. The US secretary of state Colin Powell said that Washington "at the meantime" is committed to the declared date.

Meantime, the office of the Shiite clergy Ali al-Seistani yesterday " denied deliberate news" on his assassination attempt, adding that this aims at creating insecurity atmospheres before the arrival of the UN delegation to find out the possibility of making elections, as demanded by the Shiite clergy.

However, the UN chief said that date of the June 30 for authority transfer to the Iraqis might be changed if all sides concerned agree. Annan's statements come as news reports say that a delegation of the UN experts is on its way from Amman, Jordan to Baghdad to discuss best ways for representing the Iraqi people in the process of authority transfer.

Annan said in a statement released on Saturday morning at UN Headquarters in New York. "Consensus amongst all Iraqi constituencies is the best guarantee of a legitimate and credible transitional governance arrangement for Iraq."

The Secretary-General said that the UN team was about to begin intensive consultations with Iraqi leaders and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). He stressed that the group will endeavor to meet with representatives of all constituencies and listen to "all Iraqi views and perspectives, without excluding any."

Reiterating the UN's commitment to help reestablish Iraq sovereignty as soon as possible and to maintain its territorial integrity, Annan said the United Nations strongly upheld the principle of the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their political future and control their natural resources.

"I encourage efforts by the people of Iraq to form an Iraqi government based on the rule of law that affords equal rights and justice to all Iraqi citizens without regard to ethnicity, religion or gender," the Secretary-General said. "I also remain committed to all efforts aimed at the promotion and protection of all the human rights of the Iraqi people."

Mr. Annan emphasized the UN will offer whatever help it can to support the right of the Iraqi people "to chart their own destiny and to live in peace, with respect and dignity."

Annan had said that the UN team is moving in "an open mind." He added "should all sides concerned agree to the idea to postpone the date, I do not think that we should oppose." Replying to a question, Powell said " at the meantime, we are committed to June 30 date. We are committed to the plan and the (Iraqi) governing council is committed to it."

Previous Stories:
  Annan studies UN interference in Iraq   (1/21/2004)
  International Atomic Energy Agency finds no evidence of revival of Iraqi nuclear weapons program   (10/18/2003)
  Annan says no 'major shift' in new Iraq resolution, welcomes some changes   (10/15/2003)

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