Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today said that the draft resolution that will be considered in a matter of a few hours by the United Nations Security Council will be an important and critical step towards the stability and progress of Iraq.

Referring to the proposed resolution that would welcome Iraq's new Governing Council and formally authorize the United Nations assistance mission in Iraq, the Secretary said that he hopes that the resolution would receive the full support of the Security Council.

“We have been witnessing the steady healing of the divisions in the United Nations over the issue of Iraq.  This draft resolution would be a definite contribution to finally setting aside some of the political differences that characterized the Iraq issue,” the Secretary said.

The 15-nation United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on an amended resolution on Iraq proposed by the US shortly.

The Philippines had earlier welcomed the establishment of the Governing Council. The 25-member interim council, appointed last month by the U.S., represents all of Iraq's main ethnic groups and has the power to oversee budgets, name diplomats and choose government ministers. It operates under the authority of the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq.

“I understand that the resolution under discussion would also provide Security Council backing for a new UN Assistance Mission for Iraq as outlined by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a report last month.   This is something that we certainly welcome.  Although this would not yet mean blue helmets on the ground, I join others in welcoming an increasing role for the UN in Iraq,” the Secretary said.

Based on Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s report, the mission should have about 300 civilian staff, more than half of them Iraqis. It would take over humanitarian functions from the oil-for-food program, which is being phased out, as well as assist on issues ranging from human rights to governance. Specifically, the Secretary-General envisions the United Nations assisting in areas such as judicial reform, police training, and demobilization of soldiers.

“We have deployed our humanitarian contingent to Iraq and will continue to support efforts to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq and to bring stability to the country,” the Secretary said, referring to initial deployment of 96 personnel composed of:  55 from the AFP; 26 from PNP; and 15 from the Department of Health.

In his send off for the members of the Contingent yesterday, the Secretary told the members of the contingent that the Philippines believes that, eventually, the United Nations would be given a more central role in the stability of Iraq.  He added that as an incoming member of the Security Council, the Philippines was determined to help heal the divisions in the UN on the issue of Iraq and would work for the eventual central role of the UN in the security of Iraq (please see DFA Press Release 432-03, 13 August 2003). END.