US, Britain Present Draft Iraq Resolution to UN

 

Peter Heinlein

The United States and Britain have presented the U.N. Security Council a draft resolution on Iraq, outlining the transfer of full sovereignty to an interim¹ Iraqi government. The handover would take place on June 30. But, a U.S.-led multi-national force would remain in charge of the country's security.

The resolution introduced Monday grants full governing authority to Iraqis on June 30. It gives the United Nations the lead role in overseeing a political process that will result in the establishment of an elected transitional government in Baghdad by early next year.

The measure also authorizes³ a U.S.-led multinational⁴ force to continue operating in Iraq as long as the elected government in Baghdad wishes. Since there will be no elected government till at least early next year, the resolution calls for a review of the force after one year.

The draft is likely to be revised when U.N. envoy⁵ Lakhdar Brahimi returns from Iraq. He is currently in Baghdad consulting with Iraqi political leaders.

But British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said the resolution's commitment to full sovereignty is solid. "It underlines clearly that all sovereignty will be returned to the Iraqis, that the interim Iraqi government will assume total responsibility for its own sovereignty," he said.

Among the most contentious⁶ issues still to be settled is the mandate⁷ of the multinational force that will provide security in Iraq.

France, Germany and Russia - vocal⁸ critics of the U.S. and British led coalition⁹ in Iraq - have all indicated they will look carefully at the draft. Germany's U.N. ambassador, Gunter Pleuger, said the multi-national force issue is high on his agenda for discussion.

"Of course the security question is an important question, and we will have to have a look at how the organization of the multilateral force and its cooperation with the Iraqi government is being organized in order to provide a maximum of security or a maximum of possibilities to secure the necessary conditions in the country so everybody, including the United Nations, can play their roles," he said.

The resolution states that any multinational force would be led by the United States. But Deputy U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham made clear that the force would stay only as long as it is wanted. "The United States has said that we will leave if there's a request from the government to leave," he said.

The draft introduced Monday formally dissolves the 25-member Iraq Governing Council that has had limited power during the occupation.

The Governing Council is to be replaced by an interim administration that is being selected by U.N. envoy Brahimi, in consultation¹⁰ with coalition officials.

Mr. Brahimi had been expected to remain in Iraq until next week, but diplomats¹¹ say he may return sooner to join negotiations¹² on the resolution. Mr. Jones Parry, the British ambassador, said he hopes a final draft resolution can be ready for a vote early next month.

注释：
outline [5Eutlain] vt. 概括叙述，略述
sovereignty [5sCvrinti] n. 主权国家
multi-national [5mQlti5nAFEnEl] adj. 多国的
oversee² [5EuvE5si:] v. 监视，视察
transitional [trAn5ziVEnEl] adj.变迁的，过渡期的
Baghdad [5bA^dAd] n. 巴格达（伊拉克首都）
solid [5sClid] adj. 坚固的
contentious [kEn5tenFEs] adj. 有异议的
mandate [5mAndeit] n. （前国际联盟的）委任托管权
secure [si5kjuE] v. 保护
dissolve [di5zClv] v. 解散
Iraq Governing Council  伊拉克管理委员会

1 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

2 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

3 authorizes   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。

4 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

5 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

6 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

7 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

8 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

11 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。