U.S. envoy calls for RI role in postwar Iraq<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia should participate in the reconstruction of Iraq,
\nsaid the United States Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce on
\nFriday, as countries worldwide scrambled for a share of lucrative
\ncontracts to rebuild postwar Iraq.<\/p>\n
When asked whether Indonesia should take part in the
\nreconstruction of Iraq, Boyce said, "Sure, I think Indonesia has
\na role to play."<\/p>\n
"It's very important that Indonesia plays a role because of
\nIndonesia's position as one of the world's largest countries, an
\nemerging democracy," the ambassador said at a press briefing on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Boyce would not go into details as to in which areas Indonesia
\ncould play a role in the reconstruction.<\/p>\n
"Obviously, (Indonesia) has a lot of its own problems and
\nresource constraints, but to the extent that Indonesia can take
\npart in helping Iraq, everybody would welcome that, especially
\nthe Iraqi people," he said.<\/p>\n
Many other countries are vying for a role in the postwar
\nreconstruction.<\/p>\n
After the collapse of the Iraqi government, world attention
\nhas shifted toward who should lead the reconstruction.<\/p>\n
With much of its infrastructure damaged during three weeks of
\nwar, many companies are rubbing their hands over future
\nconstruction contracts in the oil-rich country.<\/p>\n
Even governments that have opposed the war are now claiming a
\nstake in Iraq, fearing that the coalition forces would divide the
\ncontracts among themselves and leave others out in the cold.<\/p>\n
This has been one reason why governments, including Indonesia,
\nhave been pushing for a dominant United Nations role in postwar
\nIraq.<\/p>\n
Many have said that a UN-led transition of Iraq would lend
\nlegitimacy to the new government that would replace the
\ndictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein.<\/p>\n
The U.S. initiated the war without the consent of the UN
\nSecurity Council. The U.S. government decided to go ahead with
\nthe war without UN authorization after having failed to win
\nenough support among council members.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has thus labeled the war illegal, and still recognizes
\nSaddam Hussein as the legitimate Iraqi head-of-state.<\/p>\n
Although the dust has yet to settle in Iraq, 58 countries have
\nalready voiced their interest in participating in its
\nreconstruction, said U.S. State Secretary Colin L. Powell on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
He asserted that the UN would play a vital role, but
\nstatements from U.S. senior officials indicated this would be
\nlargely non-political in nature.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
\non Friday, "The President said we must move forward with our
\ndiplomatic efforts to ensure that the UN will not be sidelined in
\nthe postwar process."<\/p>\n
Hassan said Jakarta would wait for the situation in Iraq to
\nclear up before examining the options for a postwar role.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the U.S. has called on countries worldwide to close
\ndown Iraqi Embassies and to expel their ambassadors.<\/p>\n
Hassan said Indonesia has not yet received such a request, but
\nwould reject it nevertheless. "The Iraqi Embassy will stay as it
\nis, and remain here to take care of the more non-political
\nissues," he said.<\/p>\n
Iraq has no ambassador in Indonesia and its mission is headed
\nby Charge d'Affaires Naji Al Hadithi. Al Hadithi could not be
\nreached for comment, but a staff member said the embassy had long
\nlost contact with Baghdad.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-envoy-calls-for-ri-role-in-postwar-iraq-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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