United Nations, 9 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, says he is "hopeful" the Security Council will pass a resolution that would end UN control over Iraq's oil revenue and let the United States and Britain run the country for at least one year. Negroponte intends to present the resolution to the Security Council later today.
The U.S. proposal also calls for the immediate end to UN sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and for phasing out the oil-for-food humanitarian program over four months. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has control of the program until 3 June, which distributes food to 90 percent of the Iraqi population.
The U.S. proposal does not mention any role for UN weapons inspectors. The Pentagon said yesterday that it plans to increase the number of U.S. personnel searching for illegal weapons in Iraq from 600 to 2,000.
Russia and France, countries with veto powers on the Security Council, want UN arms inspectors to declare Iraq free of weapons of mass destruction before sanctions are lifted.
The leaders of France, Poland, and Germany are due to meet later today in the Polish city of Wroclaw for a one-day summit that will focus mainly on Iraq.
The three countries are part of the so-called Weimar Triangle and have enjoyed close cooperation in recent years, as Poland prepares to join the European Union.
But relations have been strained by Warsaw's active support for the United States in the Iraq war. Poland sent 200 troops to take part in combat operations and is preparing to play a major part in U.S.-led peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac, and Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski say that despite their recent disagreements, they aim to use today's summit to coordinate policies and improve cooperation.
The U.S. proposal also calls for the immediate end to UN sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and for phasing out the oil-for-food humanitarian program over four months. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has control of the program until 3 June, which distributes food to 90 percent of the Iraqi population.
The U.S. proposal does not mention any role for UN weapons inspectors. The Pentagon said yesterday that it plans to increase the number of U.S. personnel searching for illegal weapons in Iraq from 600 to 2,000.
Russia and France, countries with veto powers on the Security Council, want UN arms inspectors to declare Iraq free of weapons of mass destruction before sanctions are lifted.
The leaders of France, Poland, and Germany are due to meet later today in the Polish city of Wroclaw for a one-day summit that will focus mainly on Iraq.
The three countries are part of the so-called Weimar Triangle and have enjoyed close cooperation in recent years, as Poland prepares to join the European Union.
But relations have been strained by Warsaw's active support for the United States in the Iraq war. Poland sent 200 troops to take part in combat operations and is preparing to play a major part in U.S.-led peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac, and Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski say that despite their recent disagreements, they aim to use today's summit to coordinate policies and improve cooperation.