Annan: UN consensus on Iraq 'achievable'

Consensus on a United Nations role in Iraq is “achievable”, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said today, following talks in which the big five powers sought to find common ground on the future of the country.

A summit of foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in Geneva broke up without any breakthrough on proposals for a multinational force to restore security in Iraq.

But there were clear signs of determination to put differences over the war in the past, with both US Secretary of State Colin Powell and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin voicing a willingness to work together to achieve a Security Council resolution.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who represented the UK at the summit, characterised the tone of discussions as “very cordial, very constructive”.

And Mr Annan said all five – the UK, US, France, Russia and China – had agreed on the need to return political power to the people of Iraq “as soon as possible”.

“Discussions today were not intended to devise specific solutions,” he said. “They will contribute to building consensus towards the future of Iraq, including the definition of the UN role.”

Talks will now take place on an official level in New York on possible amendments to a draft US resolution intended to transform the coalition force in Iraq into a UN-approved multinational operation under American command.

Faced with a growing military and financial burden from continuing instability in Iraq, US President George Bush hopes the resolution, due to be tabled at the Security Council shortly, will persuade other nations to offer troops and money.

But both Russia and France – backed by non-permanent council member Germany - have made clear their agreement will come at the price of the US handing over political authority in Iraq to local politicians or to the UN itself.

The timing of any transfer of sovereignty looks set to present the largest obstacle to a resolution.

A French proposal for the Anglo-American coalition to begin handing over power to the Iraqi Governing Council within a month was dismissed as “totally unrealistic” by Mr Powell even before the summit began.

But his comments in a press conference following the talks reflected the more conciliatory approach Washington has been forced to take towards the states which opposed the war earlier this year.

“The important thing is that we spent our time today looking for points of convergence – and there are many,” said Mr Powell.

“It is always the intent of the United States to listen to others and hear ideas put forth, as we put our ideas forth. That’s the way resolutions are developed.

“I will leave this meeting encouraged with the points of convergence, but also recognising that there are still some difficulties and differences that have to be worked out.”

Asked about reports that discussions between him and Mr de Villepin had been heated, he said: “Dominique and I had excellent discussions and we have learnt enough about each other’s positions to form a basis for our representatives in New York to undertake discussions next week to see if we can find a consensus.”

Mr de Villepin added: “We are here in Geneva to try to find solutions, not to create new problems.

“It was therefore in a constructive spirit that the discussions were conducted, with the intention of ensuring that we can contribute to improvements on the ground in Iraq. That is our common pro-occupation. I believe we have the same objectives.”

Mr Annan said: “The meeting ... enabled us to conduct a thorough review of the main issues over Iraq and to do so in a constructive atmosphere with a view to identifying the points of convergence.

“A unified approach by the permanent members would make it easier for the Security Council as a whole to devise an effective policy.

“Consensus is essential and achievable, but consensus is not enough. The council’s approach must be coherent and well-defined.

“We all share the aspiration to transfer power to the Iraqi people as soon as possible.”

Restoration of security in Iraq would require “adequate military deployment and a clear political horizon for the transfer of authority to Iraqi institutions,” said Mr Annan, whose top representative in the country, Siergio Vieira de Mello, was killed along with 21 others in a car bomb attack on the UN’s Baghdad headquarters last month.