The Hindu : Iraqi Council fails to win U.N. seat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2003

International

International

Iraqi Council fails to win U.N. seat

UNITED NATIONS July 23. Iraq's new Governing Council sought international credibility through its first appearance before the U.N. Security Council and won a measure of it, but not the most tangible prize — a seat at the United Nations.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said the Governing Council's formation is ``an important first step toward the full restoration of Iraqi sovereignty.''

The U.N. special representative to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, called the U.S.-appointed Council ``broadly representative of the various constituencies in Iraq.''

But the Governing Council's attempt to take over Iraq's U.N. seat on Tuesday was derailed by ``the reservations of some of our neighbours,'' said Ahmad Chalabi, one of three delegates from the Governing Council. He did not specify which countries were involved.

A source close to the delegation pointed to Syria, a member of the Security Council, as the problem.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador, Mikhail Wehbe, told the Security Council that his Government is ``genuinely concerned for Iraq's future, independence and territorial integrity'' and called for a swift end to Iraq's occupation by U.S. and British forces.

The Governing Council's ``primary goal is to shorten the duration of the interim administration,'' said Adnan Pachachi, who spoke for the Iraqi delegation. — AP

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