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| Iraq-Jordan |
| UN extends mandate of multinational forces in Iraq |
| 2005-06-01 |
| UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council agreed Tuesday to extend the mandate of multinational forces in Iraq "until the completion of the political process." Iraq had requested the council extend the mandate, which it did informally in a statement to the news media, without adopting a resolution. The statement said council members "welcomed the progress made in recruiting, training and equipping Iraqi security forces and look forward to those forces progressively playing a greater role and ultimately assuming responsibility for Iraq's national security." In an interview, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari called on the United States and other countries to accelerate efforts to help the new government get on its feet. "We need the cooperation of all our neighbors, of the international community, to accelerate this, the process of training, of equipment, of assistance, because that will shorten the mandate of the (multinational force)," Zebari said. "We need the continued engagement of the United States in this process. For us this is very important. It's important to accelerate the training, the buid-up of these forces. I know there are many efforts to see things through being exerted, but speed is of the essence." Zebari was scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington Wednesday to discuss additional aid to his fledgling government. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 |
| Posted by: .com 2005-06-01 02:01 |