UNITED NATIONS, July 23: Underscoring the right of the Iraqi people to choose their political destiny and form of government and to exercise their right to self-determination, Pakistan on Tuesday pledged to extend all possible assistance and cooperation to the Iraqi people to realize their aspirations.

Addressing the UN Security Council meeting on Iraq, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram urged support for the UN secretary-general and his special representative on Iraq for their ongoing task to explore ways and means for ensuring political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and its neighbouring states.

Mr Akram informed the meeting that the establishment of a recognized representative government was the destination of the political process in Iraq under resolution 1483. The meeting was also attended by the members of the Iraqi governing council.

He hoped that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in coordination with the United Nations would chalk out a course of events leading to an early restoration of Iraq’s sovereignty.

“The United Nations’ engagement in this process would enhance its legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the international community, more importantly in the eyes of the Iraqi people themselves,” he emphasized.

Mr Akram noted that the “economic independence of Iraqi people constitutes a fundamental element of their national sovereignty. The administration of Iraq’s economic and natural resources is a trust which was given to the Coalition (Provisional) Authority under resolution 1483 as a temporary measure due to the exigencies of the situation. The administration of Iraq’s resources must be transparent and consistent with the provisions of international law and resolution 1483.

He noted that the restoration of peace and internal stability in Iraq was in the interest of the Iraqi people, in the interest of the neighbouring countries and in the interest of the international community. At present in Iraq, he said, there were enormous challenges of security, restoration of services, reconstruction, governance and administration of justice.

Referring to the UN secretary-general’s report in which he had noted that the primary concern in Iraq remained the restoration of the internal security, Mr Akram stressed that “the lack of security affects every aspect of life in Iraq today in a fundamental way.”

Mr Akram suggested that an indigenous mechanism was a sine qua non for halting looting and sabotage that engendered uncertainty and fear and prevented humanitarian operations and rehabilitation of basic services. “Although the CPA is primarily responsible for security in Iraq, we believe that the nature of security operations can be improved by enlisting the support and participation of the Iraqi people for these operations,” he said.

He proposed that security operations needed to be conducted in a way that were sensitive to the welfare and sentiments of the Iraqi people. To move the popular sentiments in Iraq, from suspicious to trust and from skepticism to hope, it was essential to expedite the process of transition to represent the government by the Iraqi people, he maintained.

Observing that security was the responsibility of the CPA, Mr Akram pointed out that the UN’s assistance in building and training Iraqi police and security forces could be promoted and enlarged under provisions of paragraph 8 of resolution 1483.

“This resolution, as we noted on 21st May, also opened the doors to the friends of Iraq to contribute to the welfare of the Iraqi people, including for the creation of an environment of peace and security in the area. Clearly such contributions from Iraq’s friends, who share common values with the people of Iraq, should be in response to the wishes and desires of the Iraqi people themselves,” he added.