Beijing calls for quick UN plan on post-war Iraqi reconstruction

BEIJING (AFP) Apr 10, 2003
China Thursday called for a quick end to hostilities in Iraq to avoid a humanitarian disaster and urged the United Nations to begin drawing up a post-war reconstruction plan.

"At the moment the humanitarian situation in Iraq is deteriorating," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

"The priority is to put an end to the confrontation so as to avoid severe humanitarian problems and to resume peace and stability in Iraq at an early date."

Liu refused to say that Beijing was convinced that the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein was fully toppled and only reiterated China's long-held position that the Iraqi issue should be settled within the framework of the United Nations.

He added that the "political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq" should be respected, as well as the wishes and choices of the Iraqi people and the "rational concerns of Iraq and its neighbors."

His statements came as US military forces continued their assault on Baghdad's city center amid an extensive search for regime leaders.

"The UN should play a leading role, especially in the reconstruction of Iraq, with respect to how the post-war reconstruction should be arranged politically and economically," Liu said.

"We hope the Security Council will draw up a detailed proposal on the matter and make full preparations for post-war reconstruction."

As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China was maintaining close consultations with all council members, he said, while acknowledging that "serious discussions" were being held on the Iraqi issue.

"The Chinese government is very much concerned with the difficulties confronting the Iraqi people and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people," Liu said.

Meanwhile, diplomats at the Iraqi embassy in Beijing said they have not had any contact with Baghdad for 15 days, but were awaiting orders from a new government.

"We have had no contact with Baghdad for 15 days," commercial counsellor Hussain R. Sarhan told AFP.

"There is no government. We are waiting for the new change."

Ambassador Talal Al-Khudairi refused to answer questions from AFP and refused to confirm whether he has been in consultations with China's foreign ministry on the situation in Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE