Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, states that the Bush administration has an open mind regarding the selection of a provisional government in Iraq but insists that the United States is still determined to transfer sovereignty to such a government by the scheduled date of June 30. According to David Gulast, a Voice of America reporter from the U.S. State Department, Powell's remarks come amid reports that many, and perhaps most, members of the Iraqi Governing Council no longer support the idea of regional assemblies for selecting a provisional government as was envisioned in the agreement reached last November for the intended transfer of sovereignty. In discussions with reporters, Powell said that the regional assembly plan could be revised or amended, or even replaced by some other process, but he agreed with Paul Bremer, the American administrator for Iraq, that the transfer of power must occur on schedule. Powell added, 'Therefore, we have an open mind on this matter, but as Ambassador Bremer says, we are still determined to proceed with the transfer of sovereignty by June 30.' Powell indicated that the government is awaiting a report from Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations envoy, regarding the political situation in Iraq before making any decisions on the regional assembly issue.
The U.S. Remains Determined to Transfer Power in Iraq by the Scheduled Date - 2004-02-18
The U.S. is committed to transferring power in Iraq by June 30, despite challenges from the Iraqi Governing Council regarding the selection process for a provisional government. Colin Powell emphasizes the need for flexibility while maintaining the scheduled timeline. This situation is critical as it affects the political stability and future governance of Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Colin Powell reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to transferring sovereignty to a provisional government in Iraq by June 30, despite challenges from the Iraqi Governing Council regarding the selection process. He indicated a willingness to adapt the selection method while maintaining the timeline.
- The Iraqi Governing Council is reportedly against the original plan for regional assemblies to select a provisional government.
- The U.S. is awaiting a report from the UN envoy before finalizing the selection process.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, there was a need to establish a new governance structure, which has been contentious and complex.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%