U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said January 19 that he will consider a request from the Iraq Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to send a technical mission to advise on the holding of general elections before June 30.

After a meeting he requested with representatives of the CPA and the Governing Council, Annan said, "I think we all agree that elections are going to be necessary; indeed there is a provision for two sets of elections in 2005. The issue now is whether the technical, political, or security conditions exist for general direct elections to take place as early as May this year."

The group also discussed a wide range of other areas in which Iraq and the CPA see a role for the United Nations, including humanitarian relief and reconstruction. The secretary general had requested the meeting in order to clarify what might be required of the United Nations.

The secretary general said that technical talks would begin immediately. After they are completed, he will make a decision "about what the U.N. can do to help, particularly regarding the possible dispatch of a mission to Iraq to advise on elections."

UNITED NATIONS

SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN
Remarks to Press after meeting with Coalition Provisional Authority and Iraqi Governing Council delegates

New York
19 January 2004

Good Morning [Afternoon], Ladies and Gentlemen.

As you know, I have just been meeting with senior representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council [CPA] and the Coalition Provisional Authority.

I wanted to hear the assessment of the Governing Council on how the process in Iraq was evolving, and what Iraq expects of the U.N. by way of assistance. We covered a wide spectrum of issues, including the transitional political process, humanitarian relief, security and the recovery and reconstruction of Iraq.

In my view, this meeting has been an important opportunity for all of us to get a clearer understanding of each other's positions.

I believe we did that. We would all agree that it was a very frank and open exchange of views, which we will aim to continue and broaden in the near future.

For my part, I would want the U.N. to concentrate on areas where we have a clear comparative advantage, and which all Iraqis consider vital. Further details and discussion are needed to clarify exactly how the U.N. can best help in the various fields where we have been asked to assist.

Meanwhile, both the Governing Council and the CPA representatives have expressed a strong wish that the U.N. should quickly send a technical mission to Iraq to advise on the feasibility of elections within the next few months and, if not, what alternatives might be possible.

I think we all agree that elections are going to be necessary; indeed there is provision for two sets of elections in 2005. The issue now is whether the technical, political, or security conditions exist for general direct elections to take place as early as May this year.

Other subjects discussed included the process of drafting and finalizing the fundamental law, future appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and the question of security agreements to be concluded between the Governing Council and the CPA, as provided for in the 15 November agreement.

Obviously, the scope for operational U.N. activities inside Iraq will continue to be constrained by the security situation for some time to come. The CPA and the Governing Council offered undertakings that the coalition and the Governing Council would provide full security for U.N. international personnel in Iraq.

Let me state once again that the U.N.'s sole objective is to help the Iraqi people. We would like to see as broad a consensus as possible develop among Iraqis on what needs to be done to bring about an Iraq at peace with itself and with its neighbors and on the role that the U.N. can play in this.

I believe that there is widespread agreement among us that the U.N. will have an important role to play in working with the Iraqi provisional government from July onwards on key constitutional and electoral issues. We agreed that partnership would be necessary and we are also going to be active in recovery, reconstruction and in the humanitarian and human rights fields.

Meanwhile, as regards a possible role between now and the end of June for the U.N., we have agreed that further discussions should take place at the technical level, which would be focused on the most immediate electoral and security issues. On the basis of those discussions, I would be in a better position to take decisions about what the U.N. can do to help, particularly regarding the possible dispatch of a mission to Iraq to advise on elections.

Thank you very much. I will now take your questions.