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UN vows to broaden role on Iraq | UN vows to broaden role on Iraq |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The UN is ready to broaden its activity in support of Iraq, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said. | The UN is ready to broaden its activity in support of Iraq, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said. |
Mr Ban said at a key meeting in New York the time for determined action on Iraq had come, but that a greater UN presence would need better security. | Mr Ban said at a key meeting in New York the time for determined action on Iraq had come, but that a greater UN presence would need better security. |
The UN withdrew most of its staff in 2003 after a bomb killed its top envoy and 21 others but Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki says he can now guarantee UN security. | The UN withdrew most of its staff in 2003 after a bomb killed its top envoy and 21 others but Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki says he can now guarantee UN security. |
Iraq, its neighbours and major donor nations are attending the meeting. | Iraq, its neighbours and major donor nations are attending the meeting. |
Refugees | Refugees |
Mr Ban described the talks, which he co-chaired with Mr Maliki, as "positive and supportive". | Mr Ban described the talks, which he co-chaired with Mr Maliki, as "positive and supportive". |
Mr Ban said: "There was a clear agreement that the international community cannot turn away from, or ignore Iraq. Its stability is our common concern." | Mr Ban said: "There was a clear agreement that the international community cannot turn away from, or ignore Iraq. Its stability is our common concern." |
UN AUGUST RESOLUTION Authorises UN envoy to help Iraqi government in political, economic, electoral, constitutional, refugee and human-rights issuesPromotes talks among ethnic and religious groups Promotes talks between Iraq and neighbours on border security, energy and refugees under UN auspices Raises UN staff in Iraq to 95 | UN AUGUST RESOLUTION Authorises UN envoy to help Iraqi government in political, economic, electoral, constitutional, refugee and human-rights issuesPromotes talks among ethnic and religious groups Promotes talks between Iraq and neighbours on border security, energy and refugees under UN auspices Raises UN staff in Iraq to 95 |
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Ban's tone was emphatic - the time for collective action had come. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Ban's tone was emphatic - the time for collective action had come. |
The secretary general said there would be a new "regional support office" in Baghdad to foster dialogue between involved countries and an office in the southern city of Basra was also being considered. | |
But our correspondent says it is clear that security will be the principle factor governing the scale and pace of any expanded UN role. | |
The bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters in 2003, with the loss of envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others, has meant there is now only a small presence in the country. | The bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters in 2003, with the loss of envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others, has meant there is now only a small presence in the country. |
After a meeting with Mr Ban, Mr Maliki said the security situation had "improved a lot in Baghdad". | After a meeting with Mr Ban, Mr Maliki said the security situation had "improved a lot in Baghdad". |
"We are going to be able to provide security to the UN in a way that will allow it to perform its role in an effective manner," he said. | "We are going to be able to provide security to the UN in a way that will allow it to perform its role in an effective manner," he said. |
A greater UN role was called for in a Security Council resolution in August. | A greater UN role was called for in a Security Council resolution in August. |
Mr Ban said peace could not come through military action alone | Mr Ban said peace could not come through military action alone |
Mr Ban also said peace in Iraq could not be attained through military means alone and that regional cooperation was vital. | Mr Ban also said peace in Iraq could not be attained through military means alone and that regional cooperation was vital. |
The talks have also been focusing on improving the economy, development and security of Iraq, and on stabilising the political situation and ending sectarian strife. | The talks have also been focusing on improving the economy, development and security of Iraq, and on stabilising the political situation and ending sectarian strife. |
How to deal with the humanitarian crisis is another key issue. | How to deal with the humanitarian crisis is another key issue. |
There are more than two million Iraqi refugees who have fled the country, as well as two million who are displaced within Iraq. | There are more than two million Iraqi refugees who have fled the country, as well as two million who are displaced within Iraq. |
Key economic powers like Germany and Japan; regional players like Saudi Arabia and Iran; and representatives from international economic organisations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have all been at the meeting at UN headquarters. | Key economic powers like Germany and Japan; regional players like Saudi Arabia and Iran; and representatives from international economic organisations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have all been at the meeting at UN headquarters. |
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also attending. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also attending. |
Our correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the August UN resolution underscored the shifting approach of the US administration to Iraq. | Our correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the August UN resolution underscored the shifting approach of the US administration to Iraq. |
He says the US is desperate to reduce its military entanglement in Iraq, believing that regional countries have a role to play in reducing violence there. | He says the US is desperate to reduce its military entanglement in Iraq, believing that regional countries have a role to play in reducing violence there. |