Posted on 01/31/2005 12:50:36 AM PST by kattracks
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Iraqis on their election on Sunday and offered U.N. help in future votes and the writing of a constitution.Annan, currently at the African Union summit in Nigeria, released a statement saying the "success of the election augurs well for the transition process."
U.N. election specialists had help train Iraqis for the vote, which elects a Transitional National Assembly that will draft a permanent constitution to be approved in a referendum.
"It is important to ensure that all individuals, groups and parties who, for whatever reason, were unable or unwilling to take part in the election are now brought into the constitution-making process," Annan said.
Annan said that "this is a time for reconciliation on all sides," adding he was encouraged by recent statements of a number of Iraqi political leaders "indicating their willingness to play a part in this process or to allow others to do so."
"The United Nations stands ready to continue its electoral assistance, to facilitate vital outreach efforts, and if invited, to assist the elected TNA in its work of drafting the constitution," he said.
"I wish to pay tribute to the courage of the Iraqi people, and to congratulate the Independent Election Commission of Iraq, as well as the thousands of Iraqi election workers and monitors, on having organized and carried out elections so effectively in such a limited time-frame and such daunting circumstances," Annan said.
Annan, who had called the U.S. invasion of Iraq illegal because it did not have U.N. Security Council approval, has nevertheless offered U.N. assistance in various areas.
However, the world body has fewer staff in Baghdad than it did after the war, because of a 2003 bombing of its headquarters that killed 22 people, including the chief of mission.
Hey Koffee .. a little late in the offer don't ya think?
Or are you looking for new ways to rip off the Iraqi people?
The astute Iraqis know exactly how "helpful" the U.N. has been to them thus far.
Fox News had a U.N. rep on the other night, and he kept insisting how much the U.N. has been helping Iraq. It's amazing how the host and the other guest were able to keep from rolling their eyes. Or punching him in the nose.
Translation: "Now that the hard part is over, we want to tell you what to do."
The best way the U.N. could help Iraqis is to force some of their members (like France, German, and Russia) to cough up the multi-millions of bucks they skimmed off the Iraqi people in the U.N. Oil for Food scam. Oddly though, the U.N. doesn't seem to want to open the books on all that.
Not trying to be insensitive or crude, mind y'all; but Annan is a POS. His son is on the block, and the old man is still yanking the Security Council with this tripe? Kofi should be breathing fewer than less breaths. IMOHO
The UN isn't bad with bueracracy. Let them help if it takes some of the weight off of our back.
Too little, too late.
It will be interesting to see what happens. If the new Iraqi gov't is smart they will take all of the evidence they have of foreign entities (Russia, France, Germany) skimming cash in the Oil for Food scam that were in cahoots with Saddam to the ICC, thereby forcing their hand to fork over big bucks.
That would be YOU, jerk! GO AWAY and SHUT UP! They don't NEED your "help". You have "helped" them so much in the past. $$$$$$$$$$$
OIL FOR FOOD = MONEY IN SADDAM'S AND YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS.
It's amazing to see what people can do WITHOUT the U.N. sticking it's nose in it. To me, that would mean lets get the hell out of the U.N. because they are WORTHLESS and aren't our friend. We only PAY for the "help" and to give despots and crooks a place to PLAY.
Exactly!
The best thing the UN did was to stay out of it.
Absolutely nothing! They loaned their sorry name to it. That's it.
Keep your Koffi-pickin' hands out of Iraq.
Iraq and its constitution don't need Foundering Fathers like you socialist crooks.
Leni
L.O.L.....after the coast is clear...here comes Coffee Cup Anal to say we are here to help...slap him silly!....
"I wish to pay tribute," but only if they kick a good 50% of it back my way. You see, my boy Kojo? Well, he's gonna have alot of legal bills soon, and then of course there's next year's ski trip to Jackson Hole, and....
Didn't he just call for sanctions on Sudan on Sunday too?
Always too late, should have acted sooner in Rwanda, Iraq, Sudan, etc. but more importantly, he should have resigned or been sacked long ago.
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