IRAQ: Bigger UN role in reconstruction

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, May 10 2003 (IPS) - In a lecture at THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up (ZCCF), Khaleel Matar, media expert, said that the United Nations can play a bigger role in the reconstruction of Iraq, albeit in humanitarian and medical field, stating that this role is of vital significance in renewing hope for the Iraqi people.

He mentioned, however, that the Arabs should be more active in this world organization to support this role. He added that the United States adopts double-standard policy in dealing with such issues in the United Nations. Its policy regarding Middle East follows the principle "United Nations for US interests".

In other areas, he stressed, this organization still works effectively, especially in development and poverty issues, according to a ZCCF press release. But, in the Middle East, this organization was used, in one way or another, as an alibi for waging a war on Iraq, saying that the decision of this war, as everyone knows, was taken on September 12, when George Bush addressed the United Nations.

Khaleel Matar said that the countries that opposed the war prevented the adoption of any resolution that might legitimize the war in Iraq, adding, however, that, in doing so, these countries wanted to protect the United Nations and what remains of its role, rather than protecting Iraq or its oil.