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| GOVERNING IRAQ | |
 July 22, 2003  |
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A delegation from the U.S.-backed interim Iraqi Governing Council attended a meeting of the United Nations Security Council Tuesday. The newly formed council is working to establish its legitimacy as Iraq's political voice. Adnan Pachachi, a member of the council, discusses the elements involved in creating a representative government in Iraq. Background |
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GWEN IFILL: Now, the latest on the quest to build a government of Iraqis and by Iraqis. Ray Suarez prepared this segment before the deaths of Saddam's sons were officially confirmed. RAY SUAREZ: Nine days after U.S. leaders in Iraq handpicked the Iraqi Governing Council three members of the new group appeared before today's U.N. Security Council session. Several speakers praised the council as a step toward self- rule, and called on the U.S.-led occupation to end quickly. Still, the U.N.'s special representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, said Americans and British must first restore security.
RAY SUAREZ: Having just returned from Iraq, de Mello said immediate humanitarian needs have "largely" been met. SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO: However, there are still outstanding requirements, and more are emerging, particularly in regard to internally displaced persons. The sectors of emergency rehabilitation, of health and de-mining, including the disposal of unexploded ordinance, require particular and urgent support. RAY SUAREZ: Adnan Pachachi spoke for the Iraqi council. He described life after what he called the "bloodthirsty Saddam regime."
RAY SUAREZ: Pachachi said the council has taken steps to hire policemen and build schools, and he promised free elections for Iraqi people and a constitution before long. Despite the goodwill, diplomatic battle scars were evident at the Security Council, which was split over the Iraq invasion. Several diplomats endorsed Secretary General Kofi Annan's request for a U.S. timetable to pull out. There were also references to Washington's inability to attract new international peacekeepers. The U.S. is considering requesting a U.N. Mandate for additional forces and money. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte noted one resolution already approved.
RAY SUAREZ: Negroponte's French counterpart, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, indicated the trade- off would be greater U.N. involvement in the overall rebuilding of Iraq. |
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| Efforts to create a representative Iraqi government | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RAY SUAREZ: For more on
the efforts to create a representative Iraqi government and reaction to
the developments of the day in Iraq we're joined by Adnan Pachachi, who
spoke on behalf of the Iraqi Governing Council at the United Nations earlier
today. He was foreign minister of Iraq before the Baathists took over
in 1968. Mr. Pachachi, welcome to the program.
ADNAN PACHACHI: Thank you. RAY SUAREZ: Right now American military are said to be testing bodies of men that were killed in a shootout with U.S. forces in Mosul. What will it mean to your fledgling efforts to begin the process of self-government? What will it mean to the people of Iraq if those killed in the raid were actually Qusay and Uday Hussein?
RAY SUAREZ: One of the first acts of your Governing Council was to declare the intention to try leaders of the former regime. Would you have preferred to try Uday and Qusay? ADNAN PACHACHI: Well, I mean, if they were caught alive, yes, they would have been tried. I just heard the news today, as you have, and -- probably they -- they would not surrender, and that's why there was a shootout, as you say. The special court will be set up very soon. We have asked a committee of jurists to look into the matter and to submit proposals on the kind of court, as to terms of reference, its competence, and so on... RAY SUAREZ: Let's talk a little bit about your appearance before the U.N. today. How were you and your fellow members of the Governing Council received today at the world body? |
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| Feedback at the United Nations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RAY SUAREZ: What do you want from the United Nations at this point? ADNAN PACHACHI: Well, the United Nations can play a very important role in many things; beside the humanitarian aspects, they can help us, you know, do certain things like the population census, like enacting an electoral law, electoral registers, even setting up various departments of state because they have had a lot of experience in this -- what you may call nation building, so I think we can benefit from their experience in this field. RAY SUAREZ: And what was their response to your request to seat a new Iraqi delegation and have it recognized, a delegation of the Governing Council's choosing? ADNAN PACHACHI: Yes, I mean we were recognized as the representatives of the Governing Council, and, after all, I mean, the Governing Council is an interim or transitional authority, and the representative government of Iraq, the elected government of Iraq will come only after a constitution has been drafted and elections have been held in accordance with that constitution, which would also be submitted to the people to approve in a referendum. That's why -- although we would have preferred to be recognized as representing the Iraqi state now and without further delay, we understand some of the hesitations and reservations, but I hope that with time and as the council -- the Governing Council continues to achieve results, I think there will come a time and very shortly we hope that the Governing Council will be recognized as the only representative of the Iraqi state. RAY SUAREZ: Well, when steps -- ADNAN PACHACHI: We welcome that. We welcome that. RAY SUAREZ: Well, when steps are taken like this, when a delegation is eventually seated, does that give you the kind of legitimacy, the kind of recognition that you can then take to other international organizations and say, yes, we are -- until a constitution is ratified -- until there are elections, the government of Iraq? ADNAN PACHACHI: Yes, I think we can. We can go to other specialized agencies and other international organizations and tell them that the highest authority in the international field, which is the Security Council, has granted us the possibility of taking part in the work of the council and addressing the council and so I think the others could do no less. |
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| Establishing legitimacy among the Iraqi people | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ADNAN PACHACHI: Well, I think it all depends how quickly we can have a constitution ready for the people to approve in a referendum. But, you know, constitution-making is not an easy matter; it could be complicated, it could require some time, but I think there is unanimity among Iraqis that we should really expedite this constitutional process and hasten it so that we will be able to have a government which -- a legitimate government, internationally recognized as soon as possible. RAY SUAREZ: We've been talking a lot about Iraq's relationships with the outside world. I'd like to turn our discussion a little bit toward Iraq itself. Is the council achieving acceptance among Iraqis? Is it taking up the work of doing the day-to-day business of governing inside the country? ADNAN PACHACHI: I think it will gain increasing acceptance if it's able to produce results, and this is what we are trying to do, especially in certain matters which affect the people directly and which there have been demands for improvement like, you know, the problem of security – and some of the basic services like electricity and water and also the economic problems that people have not received their salaries for some time. Now salaries are being paid; there's the question of unemployment, which has to be dealt with. So if the council is – the Governing Council is able to deal effectively with some of these problems and produce results, then I think its image will improve with the Iraqis. RAY SUAREZ: And what was your reaction to the thousands who took to the streets to denounce the council in demonstrations over the past several days in Iraq?
But I think the majority of Iraqis have taken a "wait and see" attitude; they want to give the council, which has been -- which has been created only nine days ago -- not more -- so they want to give it some more time to see what it's able to do. RAY SUAREZ: From the United Nations, Adnan Pachachi, thank you very much. ADNAN PACHACHI: Thank you. |
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SERGIO
VIEIRA DE MELLO: In the current context, the coalition has the primary
obligation of restoring and maintaining security, law, and order. Iraq
today finds itself in an awkward situation: Post-conflict, but with
hostilities occurring every day; awash with weapons, many legitimately
present, many more not; and under military occupation. 
ADNAN
PACHACHI (translated): Our homeland has rid itself of the oppressive
tyrant regime that oppressed our people for three decades, that tyrant
system of government that usurped us of our freedoms and degraded our
dignity and exercised worst forms of oppression, as demonstrated by
mass graves now being discovered all across the country. 
JOHN
NEGROPONTE: Resolution 1483 appeals to member states and concerned organizations
to contribute to conditions of stability and security in Iraq. And we
strongly encourage member states to contribute stability forces under
this resolution. 
ADNAN
PACHACHI: Well, we hope this will diminish the acts of violence, which
are being -- which are being perpetrated against -- against not only
American troops but also against Iraqi police volunteers and also against
public installations.
ADNAN
PACHACHI: I think we were very well received, and I'm really grateful
for the very friendly reception that we received from all members of
the council. I think it was really beyond our expectations, and we will
go back to Iraq carrying with us not only support and encouragement
but also a fair amount of recognition that we are, in fact, are the
spokesmen of Iraq at the present time.
RAY
SUAREZ: Are you and the other members of the council dealing with a
rough timetable in your head by which time you'd like to see elections,
by which time you'd like to see a new constitution?
ADNAN
PACHACHI: Well, I think actually these demonstrations were mainly by
certain religious forces and religious bodies -- which -- partly because
they were not included in the council and partly because maybe they
have some antagonisms and disputes with some other religious groups
which are representative of the council -- so there’s always that
element that should not be forgotten.