UN must run transitional, post-war Iraq: EU President Greece

ATHENS (AFP) Apr 07, 2003
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, whose country holds the presidency of the European Union, said on Monday that post-war Iraq must be run by the United Nations.

"What is crucial now is that... Iraqi reconstruction, the post-war phase, be determined by the UN, that developments be carried out under the UN aegis," Simitis said in a televised speech after a meeting of the executive of his ruling socialist party.

Greece will put the issue on the agenda of the next EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, scheduled for April 14, Simitis said.

"Reconstruction must be carried out with the participation of Iraq's citizens... so that... they can take their lives in their own hands as soon as possible," he added.

"This must be the aim of the UN during the transitional phase," the Greek Prime Minister said.

SPACE.WIRE