By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The deteriorating security situation in Iraq in the past year has kept the United Nations from returning to the country and undertaking the wide-ranging assistance program set out by the Security Council, Secretary General Kofi Annan reported to the council August 11.

"A qualitative improvement in the overall security environment is an essential prerequisite for the success of United Nations efforts in Iraq," Annan said in a written report.

The secretary general said that security remains the primary obstacle and constraint in undertaking the tasks set out by the council which include helping with the elections and the establishment of a constitutionally elected government, economic and social development, humanitarian assistance, promotion of human rights, and judicial and legal reform.

The United Nations is approaching the first anniversary, August 19, of the bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed U.N. special envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others. During the year, the United Nations has sent small teams into Iraq for short periods of time and began to incrementally relocate U.N. staff outside Iraq in satellite offices in Cyprus, Amman, and Kuwait.

International staff is currently allowed into Iraq only for emergency humanitarian relief, security operations or other operations deemed essential. Several electoral assistance teams have already been in the country to help Iraqis prepare for the upcoming elections set for the end of 2004 or early 2005.

Nevertheless, until overall security improves significantly, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) will have to continue to operate from the regional offices, the secretary general said.

"Despite these constraints," Annan said, "we have remained fully committed to helping the Iraqi people to rebuild their country."

"I strongly believe that Iraqis have the necessary human potential and natural resources to succeed in rebuilding their country. The United Nations stands ready to do everything possible to support and contribute to an Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned process," he said.

UNAMI was established in August 2003 for an initial one-year period. The Security Council is currently consulting on a resolution that would extend UNAMI's mandate.