United Nations, 9 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The United States today presented a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, seeking UN authorization for the United States and Britain to control Iraq for at least one year. The draft calls for the lifting of UN sanctions on Iraq as of next month, and for Iraqi oil revenues to be directed into a reconstruction fund managed by the coalition allies.
The U.S. proposal does not mention the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq, which Russia and other governments have called for.
The Security Council is set to discuss the draft next week.
Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Poland, and Germany today met in the Polish city of Wroclaw to discuss issues surrounding Iraq. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the three countries will make every effort to support Iraq's reconstruction.
"We have a common interest that there be no humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq and that is why we are going to help.... We have made clear -- at least I can speak for myself -- that we will do what we can, under the auspices of the United Nations, when it comes to the reconstruction, whatever the assistance may look like," Schroeder said.
French President Jacques Chirac called for the UN to have a "central role" in postwar Iraq. He pledged that France will discuss the U.S. proposal "in an open and constructive" manner.
The U.S. proposal does not mention the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq, which Russia and other governments have called for.
The Security Council is set to discuss the draft next week.
Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Poland, and Germany today met in the Polish city of Wroclaw to discuss issues surrounding Iraq. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the three countries will make every effort to support Iraq's reconstruction.
"We have a common interest that there be no humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq and that is why we are going to help.... We have made clear -- at least I can speak for myself -- that we will do what we can, under the auspices of the United Nations, when it comes to the reconstruction, whatever the assistance may look like," Schroeder said.
French President Jacques Chirac called for the UN to have a "central role" in postwar Iraq. He pledged that France will discuss the U.S. proposal "in an open and constructive" manner.