Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
108 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urgently intervene at the UN level in the deteriorating situation in Iraq; and if he will call upon the UN Security Council to be more directly involved in solving the extremely volatile situation in Iraq. [18982/04]
View answerResolution 1546 on Iraq was adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 8 June 2004. The resolution endorses the formation of a sovereign interim government which will assume full responsibility and authority by 30 June for governing Iraq. It welcomes the ending of the occupation by that date and the reassertion by Iraq of its full sovereignty. It reaffirms the right of the Iraqi people to determine their political future and to control their financial and natural resources. It goes on to endorse the proposed timetable for Iraq's political transition to democratic government. The resolution also spells out the role of the United Nations and reaffirms the authorisation for a multinational force, which is the subject of an exchange of letters.
Ireland, both nationally and as Presidency of the European Union, welcomed the adoption of this resolution. The unanimous adoption of the resolution conveys the support of the international community for the transfer of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi Government. I believe that this broad international support will help to stabilise the situation in Iraq. In particular, I hope that it will mark a new and successful stage, with the UN playing a key role in the process of political and economic reconstruction in Iraq.
The interim Iraqi Government was appointed on 1 June 2004. The Iraqi Governing Council has now disbanded and full sovereignty is due to be transferred to this new interim government on 30 June. I welcome the formation of a new interim Iraqi Government. I wish the new government every success in governing Iraq to the stage at which free and fair elections can take place.
