Posted on 07/22/2004 7:45:18 AM PDT by Ranger
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Six weeks after the U.N. Security Council authorized a separate force to protect U.N. staff in Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that the world body has not received a single firm commitment of troops.
Annan said if the 191 U.N. member states want the United Nations to play a major role in helping Iraq prepare for elections, draft a constitution, and rebuild the country they must ensure adequate security for U.N. personnel.
``Without that security, we cannot really deploy in any sizeable number,'' he said.
Security is an especially sensitive issue as the first anniversary of the Aug. 19, 2003, bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad approaches. That blast killed 22 people, including top U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
It was followed by a second bombing, and after an upsurge in attacks elsewhere in Iraq, Annan ordered all U.N. international staff to leave the country in October. He has sent his special adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, and U.N. election chief Carina Perelli to Iraq on several occasions - but there is still no permanent U.N. mission in Baghdad.
That will soon change following Annan's announcement last week that the new U.N. envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, who has been Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, will be based in Baghdad with a small team.
He is expected to arrive in Baghdad in late July or early August, but the U.S.-led multinational force will have to provide protection because the separate brigade of about 4,000 troops that was envisioned to protect U.N. staff and facilities still exists only on paper.
``We have about three or four countries that have indicated some interest,'' Annan told a news conference. ``I don't think any of them has come up with the size of force it is prepared to deploy; consultations and discussions are going on.''
U.N. diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, have identified Nepal and Georgia as two possible troop contributors.
The secretary-general said he had spoken to some leaders ``who seemed interested but had certain conditions,'' including Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
He indicated that Pakistan ``would be prepared to contribute if the request were to come from the Iraqi interim government, and if there were other Islamic troops on the ground, because they would not want to be the only Islamic force on the ground,'' Annan said.
Discussions are taking place with other Islamic countries about deploying troops to the region.
Some diplomats have expressed particular dismay that European countries, which have been pressing the United Nations to get more involved in Iraq, appear unwilling to provide the world body the protection it needs.
Kofi Baby said:
``Without that security, we cannot really deploy in any sizeable number.''
Well, that's a relief!
Annan: "U.N. Staff in Iraq Is Unprotected"
maybe you should build a security wall/fence you moron
The U.S.-led multinational force will have to provide protection because the separate brigade of about 4,000 troops that was envisioned to protect U.N. staff and facilities still exists only on paper.
...much like the authority of the U.N. - only on paper. So our troops are going to be put in harm's way to protect this ingrate. If one of our troops dies protecting this scum, W. should pull out of the U.N. immediately.
So give them condoms. Isn't that the UN and liberal solution to lack of protection?
Tell someone who cares...
Hey, Kofi, maybe France will protect you.
Tuff s***.
At last we've found a role for the French. They should have no qualms about protecting UN scumbags, many of whom are French.
I wish that we could say the same thing about the UN losers in Turtle Bay.
GENTLEMEN! START YOUR BULLDOZERS!
Mebbe the US could step up? Nah!
As usual... the U.S. will wind up having to spread thinner trying to protect their sorry butts. No one else is expressing interest? So what... The U.S. will bail us out again...
Ridiculous.
"I'm deeply saddened..."
Kofi "Famous Anus" can hand out towels afterward..
heeeere, kittykittykitty...
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