Indonesia, Brunei want UN lead in postwar Iraq

Indonesia, Brunei want UN lead in postwar Iraq

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia wants the UN to take the lead in the establishment of a
postwar government in Iraq and ensure the participation of the
Iraqi people in the process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Tuesday
that the UN should not be marginalized after the war was over in
Iraq.

"We want to see the UN play its part in the establishment of
the postwar government in Iraq, which should be a people-centered
administration," Hassan said.

"We need to ensure that the UN will not be moved aside once
again over the Iraq issue, as it should determine the legitimacy
of the new government in the country."

As the attack by the U.S. and its allies on Baghdad moves into
its third week, the world is anticipating the imminent downfall
of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said earlier that UN
involvement was required in the establishment of a legitimate
government in Iraq after the war.

Hassan supported the view, saying that only with the
involvement of the UN would the new government of Iraq win
international recognition.

"We don't wish to see a U.S. occupation of Iraq, after the
aggression is over," he said.

U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony
Blair agreed, after their meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland,
on Monday, that the UN would play a vital role in postwar Iraq.

Blair added that coalition troops would not stay a day longer
than necessary in Iraq.

Hassan said that in his recent meeting with his Malaysian
counterpart, Syed Hamid, the two Muslim-majority countries
underlined the importance of the UN in determining the fate of
Iraq after the war.

Indonesia's stance was echoed by visiting Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam during bilateral talks with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday.

In their joint media statement the two leaders called on the
international community to ensure that postwar arrangements were
made within a UN framework.

They also expressed grave concern about the situation in Iraq
and deep regret that the process of dialog and diplomacy had
failed to avert war there.

Hassan said that both leaders were in agreement over the
establishment of a postwar government, reconstruction and
humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people after the war.

"We are following closely the developments in these major
issues and expect the UN to be part of the whole process," the
minister stressed.