Handover of sovereignty?
The last few weeks in Iraq have been some of the most constructive since the war officially ended. The interim government has just been sworn in, though not without controversy.
The United Nations resolution proposed by the US and UK has been accepted, possibly signifying that divisions within the UN are healing. And Iraqis have a clearer idea who will be running their country in the years to come.
The handover of power to the Iraqi interim government – set for June 30 in the Coalition’s 2003 timetable – is fast approaching. The interim administration will hold power until December 2005 when there will be full elections and a new government.
Before then, there will be elections to a Transitional National Assembly and a referendum on a new constitution.
This is a very important process; it all starts with the new interim government.
The members of the interim government were chosen by Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN special envoy to Iraq. Iyad Allawi has been selected to be the interim Prime Minister.
Allawi, a Shia Muslim and former exile, is backed by the US and has connections to the CIA.
Ghazi al-Yawir, a powerful Sunni Muslim leader who has criticised the US occupation, has been appointed interim President.
Many within Iraq have raised questions about the independence of the appointees. President Bush tried to dispel concerns that the interim government will be a ‘puppet’ of the US administration, “I had no role [in selecting the Iraqi interim government members]. I mean, occasionally somebody said this person may be interested or that, but I had no role in picking. Zero,” he said.
What is certain is that Iraqis are going to judge the government on its actions, not just its words. The independence of the interim government is crucial: it will set the tone for things to come.
A key concern for many is whether Iraq will have ‘full sovereignty’. Until recently, Tony Blair provided assurances that military operations would require the interim government’s consent.
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell appeared to contradict this when he confirmed the Iraqis will not have a veto over actions by Coalition forces.
This had been a central issue for foreign diplomats, but the latest unanimous UN resolution effectively puts it to rest.
The resolution does not give the interim government a veto over the actions of the US-led force but it does secure some important rights. It affirms that the multinational force (MNF) is present at the request of the incoming government, and makes clear that the MNF will leave if requested to do so.
According to the resolution, the occupation ends on June 30, while the military mandate of the MNF will expire upon completion of the political processes outlined in the self-rule timetable. This ensures the US cannot stay longer than necessary.
The UN resolution is evidently very important. It assures the Iraqis that there is a clear timetable carrying them towards self-rule. It clearly outlines their rights and gives the interim government some influence over the MNF. When it is recognized that the MNF is present by invitation, few can doubt that the occupation is effectively over.
The unanimous resolution should remind people that the UN can achieve great things when its members are united. There were massive divisions in the UN before the war, which could have jeopardized the organisation’s status as a powerful body.
This resolution signifies cooperation between key members that were polar opposites until recently. The UN is now firmly back on the world stage; it looks like the divisions are finally healing.
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