UN support could boost Iraq funding
International agreement on Iraq would encourage donors to pledge more money for reconstruction of the war-ravaged country at a conference in Spain in October, United Nations and Iraqi officials said in Dubai.
The US, which has rejected rapidly handing Iraq back to the Iraqis under a UN timetable, is seeking backing from the international body to enlist help and ease the strain on US-led occupation forces.
“It will help some countries which still have some doubts about their own position,” an unidentified UN official told Reuters on the sidelines of a donor discussion.
“A pat on the back from the UN is always very useful,” he added.
US plea
A UN-sponsored pledging conference is due to take place in Madrid on 23-24 October.
Faced with mounting casualties and a sky-rocketing bill in Iraq, the US wants the 15-member Security Council to authorise a multinational force so that other countries can help share the
|
“It will help some countries which still have some doubts about their own position” UN official |
reconstruction costs.
Still, the illegality of the US-led invasion has meant that France, Germany, Russia amongst others have demanded America should implement a timetable for restoring Iraqi sovereignty. They have also insisted on a larger role for the UN.
US President George Bush urged other nations to share the burden of rebuilding Iraq at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and rejected a speedy transfer of power to Iraqis.
Cash
“In New York there is an intensive discussion about a new resolution and I hope it comes with positive results,” Iraqi Planning Minister Mahdi Hafiz also said a new UN resolution would push donors to produce more cash, according to Reuters.
The US government has estimated that the rebuilding bill could cost as much as $75 billion.