Brahimi Leaves Iraq As Security Council Talks Continue On New Resolution
With Iraqis having named an interim government to inherit sovereignty from the United States-led Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA) at the end of June, United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi departed the country today as talks continued
in New York on a new Security Council resolution on the future course of action.
"Our mission has been accomplished," Mr. Brahimi told reporters in Baghdad, noting that both the CPA and the Iraqi
Governing Council had requested UN support for the political transition.
At the same time, he pointed out that the process is ongoing as the groundwork is being laid to hold general elections
in January 2005. As part of the preparations, work continues on plans for a national meeting planned for the first week
of July.
[A UN spokesman in New York announced today that after a country-wide process of nomination, Iraq's autonomous and
non-partisan Independent Electoral Commission has been established.]
Mr. Brahimi said the interim administration "is the best that we can reach right now" and lauded its spectrum of
members. "I also believe that they respond to a large extent, not 100 percent, but to a large extent, to what we said
that we have heard from the Iraqi people: that the Iraqis want a government composed from experienced and honest people
that are not related in a narrow meaning to their political parties."
"Shall this satisfy all the Iraqis? Of course not. But we believe that a lot of Iraqis, if not all of them, shall find
within this government members who not necessarily represent them but are close to them," he said, appealing to the
Iraqi people to "give this government a chance."
Following his press conference, Mr. Brahimi headed back to New York, where he is expected to arrive over the weekend. He
will brief the Secretary-General as well as the Security Council, which continues closed-door talks on the new
resolution.
On Tuesday evening, Council members consulted for three hours on the draft. Tomorrow, the Council is expected to meet
with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari.