The Hindu : U.N. should have a role in shaping Iraq's future: Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 13, 2003

International

International

U.N. should have a role in shaping Iraq's future: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD APRIL 12. Pakistan today said that it expected the United Nations to play a "central role" in shaping the future of Iraq and that it was closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation.

"It is clear that the Government of Saddam Hussein is no longer functioning. This has been confirmed by the Iraqi Permanent Representative in New York," the Foreign Office said.

"The governance of Iraq was the right of the Iraqi people, and therefore it should be restored to them as soon as possible.

The powers in effective control of Iraq were obligated under The Hague and Geneva Conventions to address the humanitarian and other basic needs of the people as well as to restore public order".

The Foreign Office said Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty must be preserved as also its rights over its natural resources, which has been reaffirmed in the U.N. Security Council resolution 1472 (oil for food). The Security Council must resume its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in the context of Iraq.

With regard to the functioning of its embassy in Baghdad, Pakistan said that the staff members had been temporarily withdrawn.

"We intend to send back our Ambassador as soon as possible. At present, the security situation continues to be uncertain and unsettled. This has also been highlighted by the U.N. Secretary-General".

The Foreign Office said the Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, in his statement on March 28, had announced Pakistan's intention to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.

Mr. Jamali had pointed out that while the primary responsibility of addressing the immediate and long-term needs of the Iraqi people rested with the parties involved in the conflict, the Government of Pakistan, in an expression of solidarity with the people of Iraq, intended to provide assistance for the latter.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan was concerned over Israel's continued acts of `aggression' against innocent Palestinian civilians, the latest resulting in the tragic loss of 12 civilian lives.

"Israel's incessant attacks appear to be a part of its deliberate policy of sabotaging all peace initiatives including the launch of the internationally backed `roadmap' for peace in the Middle East and an attempt to take advantage of the international community's pre-occupation with events in Iraq.

``Israel must refrain from exacerbating tensions by undermining the Palestinian leadership, destroying its administrative structures and re-occupying Palestinian territories'', it said.

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