U.S. Introduces U.N. Iraq Measure

"It's a move in the right direction taking into account the concerns of council members," said one council diplomat from Germany after a quick look at the third revision tabled by the London-Madrid-Washington co-sponsors. Most others were studying and transmitting the document to their capitals for reaction.

Negroponte, who told reporters the latest version was in a ready-for-vote form, expected voting to take place no earlier than Wednesday. Washington's envoy said he had asked council members to "seek instructions to be ready to vote by that time.

"We feel the resolution provides a good framework for the International community to support the people of Iraq in the creation of a stable and secure society and for the earliest possible restoration of their sovereignty," he continued. "The resolution defines a vital role for the secretary-general and the United Nations; it lifts sanctions and phases out over a six-month period the oil-for food program."

The earlier version cut the humanitarian program after only for months - much too short an amount of time according to many of the 15 panel members who also were seeking a strengthened and more clearly defined role for the world organization.

This draft runs nearly 12 full pages. The earlier one was eight pages. "The transitional arrangements that come into being will also allow the people of Iraq to benefit from their natural resources in a manner that will be transparent and where the secretary-general and his representative will play an important role," Negroponte said, referring to an international oversight panel. However the United States still controlled the purse strings as part of the coalition "Authority" occupying Iraq.

This is an important point. The new measure upgrades the U.N. man or woman on the scene to a "special representative" rather than a "coordinator."

The highest brand of envoy U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan assigns is a special representative, such as the now-U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian, when he served as Annan's special representative in Timor-Leste, previously East Timor.

Vieira de Mello, who ran the country until its independence just one year ago, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Iraq position, and the suggestion has been favorably received. It is possible the designation for such a rank could have been with an eye to the highly regarded Vieira de Mello.

Asked about roles for the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, its search for weapons of mass destruction and the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy, Negroponte said, "The resolution simply acknowledges the fact that the problem of UNMOVIC and IAEA needs to be revisited. The intention is to come back to it. It doesn't affect the current situation."

The United States refuses to allow the U.N. inspectors back in, saying Washington had its own inspectors in Iraq, but they had not come up with any weapons of mass destruction, the reason given by U.S. President George W. Bush for leading a "coalition of the willing" into the Arab nation in the first place.

Earlier Monday, the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei called on the United States and other coalition authorities to allow experts from the U.N. nuclear agency to return to Iraq to address a possible radiological emergency there.

"I am deeply concerned by the almost daily reports of looting and destruction at nuclear sites and about the potential radiological safety and security implications of nuclear and radiological materials that may no longer be under control," he said. "We have a moral responsibility to establish the facts without delay and take urgent remedial action."

Washington's envoy ignored ElBaradei's remarks when asked about them and said the draft resolution calls for the panel to return to the question of weapons inspections.

Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of Britain told reporters of the new draft, "There is greater clarity on what is to be the role for what is now to be the special representative of the secretary-general."

He also pointed out there were "clearer provisions on the oil-for-food program, on immunities and on various other quite technical and detailed aspects of what we are proposing."

The previous version gave blanket immunity to the coalition from prosecution. This new draft limits that somewhat, allowing prosecutions for oil spills, as an example.

This was a problem of major concern to the French and to an apparently lesser extent, the Russians. Both are among the veto-wielding permanent five members of the Security Council, which also includes, Britain, China and the United States.

The measure calls for settlement of such problems through multilateral institutions.

Another major change, although technical-looking actually turns out to be political.

Instead of the measure self-renewing for 12-month periods, unless the council decided otherwise, it now calls for the Authority, the occupying powers or coalition, to stay in control of Iraq "until an internationally recognized, representative government is established by the people of Iraq and assumes the responsibilities of the Authority," doing away with any interim administration, as well.

A U.S. official, who wished to be no further identified, was quick to point out that "There will be a better potion of money for the secretary-general" to use in the oil-for food program, a scheme set up in 1996 to ease suffering of the Iraqi people because of the sanctions imposed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

The official said it would mean in simple terms there would be $1 billion for development of Iraq and $2.1 billion to "wind down" the oil-for-food program over six months.

As for the extent of that program, 60 percent of the 27-million Iraqi people depended on it for their staples, delivered through a highly developed network of food agents.

Greenstock expressed the hope his colleagues on the council can now "move forward, by consensus on a program for the post-conflict operation of the situation in Iraq that includes a very distinct and vital role for the United Nations through the secretary-general and his special representative and through the special representative of the secretary-general on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (of the Development Fund for Iraq) that is to look at the workings of the oil-for-food program under the authority of the coalition on the ground."

He was asked how a new Iraqi government would evolve.

"What will take place in the coming weeks and months will be detailed discussions with the Iraqis on the ground as to the formation of an internationally recognized, representative government, which will take over the functions of the coalition on the ground at the end of the occupying period," replied London's envoy.

"This draft, now, quite interestingly, defines the end of the occupation, in effect, as the coming into being of an internationally recognized representative government of Iraqis whenever they are ready to take that step with the help of both the Authority on the ground, the coalition, and the United Nations."

But, will the measure pass?

"We very much hope that there will be full consensus in the council," he said, recalling that he earlier had sensed a "constructive spirit" among council members on all fronts and that it continued.

"I think that the atmosphere has been surprisingly positive and constructive, given what we've gone through," Greenstock said, obviously referring to the divided council before the Iraq war, "But we haven't finished negotiating on the draft."

An informal poll by analysts showed his optimism may be rightly placed since it appeared there were enough votes - nine are needed without a veto - for the previous draft resolution.

One veto-wielding council member told United Press International last week that as he saw it, it was how far Washington really was willing to go for a strong mandate with not just accepting a passing vote but going for a solid mandate of 15 affirmative votes.

Washington, seems to have taken a step in that direction, at least according to that diplomat from Germany, an elected council member, but not one with a veto.

The council will have closed-door consultations on the draft beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.