UNITED NATIONS, March 24: The United Nations Security Council is unable to convene in an emergency meeting to consider the US-led invasion of Iraq in absence of any such request from Iraq or any other member state like France, Russia or China, diplomats here said on Monday.
When asked about the possibility of a Security Council meeting, diplomats said that first Iraq, the aggrieved party, should demand such a meeting or major powers like France or Russia who opposed the US-Britain-Spain sponsored resolution for authorizing a war against Iraq could seek such a meeting. Moreover, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) or the Non-Aligned Movement could also have called for such a meeting, but so far none had come forward.
One primary reason for the inability of countries or groups to call an emergency meeting of the council is the fact that two of the five permanent members are directly involved in the military action and could possibly torpedo such a meeting.
“Even if we are able to build a consensus for a resolution calling for a halt to war, it would be certainly be vetoed by the Americans or the Britain,” said one diplomat.
Meanwhile, in response to the humanitarian relief proposals circulated to the Security Council members by Secretary-General Kofi Annan last week, Pakistan has prepared the draft of a resolution to be considered by the council.
The draft is expected to emerge late Tuesday after conclusion of the discussions underway among experts. Pakistan has proposed that the occupying power and the international community have a special responsibility to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people are met urgently and without any hindrance. Full and unimpeded access should be provided to Iraqis in need by humanitarian organizations.
Pakistan has also urged that the international community should commit itself in the resolution to provide generous humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. Two other important principles introduced by Pakistan are: first, that the Security Council reaffirm the inalienable rights of the people of Iraq, including over their natural resources; and second, that all states should adhere strictly to their obligations under human rights and international humanitarian law.
Speaking in the informal consultations at the Security Council on this resolution last Friday, Pakistan’s Ambassador Munir Akram stressed that the Security Council should be sensitive to three main concerns: (I) a general public expectation that the council quickly addresses the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people; (ii) that it shows unity on this question; and (iii) its response should not give the impression that it had worked only to divide up Iraq’s oil resources.
