The U.S. representative to the United Nations states that Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has invited senior representatives of the coalition forces to gather on January 19 in New York at the headquarters of the organization to discuss the potential return of UN staff to Iraq. John Negroponte, after his meeting with Mr. Annan on Friday, did not mention whether Paul Bremer, the U.S. Administrator, would attend the meeting as a representative, but stated that he would certainly be a suitable person for these negotiations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the head of the interim council, and the permanent head of the Iraqi Governing Council will also participate in this meeting. Negroponte stated, "I can say that the United States will have its representative at this meeting and will be presented correctly, but at this moment I cannot specifically announce who this representative will be." He mentioned that during discussions with Mr. Annan, he emphasized the increasing importance of the UN's role in transferring power to the people of Iraq on behalf of the coalition forces. He added that the concerns of the Secretary-General regarding establishing appropriate security conditions to protect UN staff in Iraq would be discussed at the gathering on January 19 in New York. Earlier, Fred Eckhard, the spokesperson for the United Nations, stated that the Secretary-General is considering the potential return of UN staff to Iraq. Eckhard added that Mr. Annan has not forgotten the bombing of the UN offices in Baghdad. Amir Jones-Perry, the British representative to the UN, also attended the Friday meeting but did not comment on this matter. To expedite the return of UN staff to Iraq, Britain has joined Washington. British officials say that Jeremy Greenstock may attend the negotiations on January 19 as Tony Blair's envoy.
Kofi Annan Invites Senior Representatives of Coalition Forces - 2004-01-11
Kofi Annan has invited senior representatives of coalition forces to discuss the potential return of UN staff to Iraq on January 19 in New York. The meeting will include key figures such as the U.S. representative and the heads of the Iraqi Governing Council. This is significant as it highlights the UN's role in Iraq's transition and security concerns.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Kofi Annan invited senior representatives of coalition forces to a meeting in New York to discuss the potential return of UN staff to Iraq. This meeting aims to address security concerns and the role of the UN in Iraq's transition to self-governance.
- The meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2004.
- The discussion will include security conditions for UN staff in Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the UN's involvement is critical for establishing governance and security in the country. The bombing of UN offices in Baghdad in 2003 raised significant concerns about the safety of UN personnel.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%