ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari said in a press statement during the Summit of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conferences in Istanbul that the transfer of sovereignty from the US-led occupation to an Iraqi government in June would contribute to stability in Iraq.
The 31st foreign ministers Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) kicked off in Istanbul on Monday. Pointing to the Iraq resolution of the United Nations, Zebari said that it was very important for the future of Iraq but it is not clear how long foreign occupying forces would stay in Iraq. Zebari added that foreign forces are connected to the development of a stable Iraq with a stable government, and Iraq now needs time to develop.
"I do not know when the transfer process will end. It is more important for Iraq to implement its own army, police organization and state institutions," Zebari said.
The Iraq resolution was submitted by the United Kingdom and the US to the UN Security Council. The five permanent and ten temporary members of the Security Council all voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution foresees the transfer of sovereignty from the US-led occupation forces to the Governing Council of Iraq on June 30 but the resolution delegates some of the authority of the Iraqi Governing Council to the US-led coalition forces for the maintenance of stability in Iraq.
The resolution gives the Iraqi Governing Council the right to demand that the US-led occupation forces leave the country any time the Governing Council wishes. It also provides for the holding of elections in Iraq by June 31, 2005 at the latest.
The resolution calls for the cooperation between the Iraqi Governing Council and the US-led occupation forces in the carrying out security operations within the country. The UN resolution, however, does not give the Iraqi Governing Council the right to the to veto wide-ranging security operations by the US and its allies in Iraq.