GNS UN chief Annan addresses Iraq donor conference

(26 Oct 2003) 1. Wide of conference with UN Security-General Kofi Annan Kofi Annan walking onto podium with Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, where they are seated 2. Delegates sitting in audience 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kofi Annan, UN Security-General: "The assessment prepared by the United Nations and the World Bank depicts a country with reconstruction needs on a monumental scale. All of you are familiar with what many years of repression, corruption, brutality, neglect, sanctions, aggression and misguided policies have done. Our challenge now is two-fold: to respond to Iraq's immediate humanitarian needs and to get the country's reconstruction off to a determined start." 4. Annan and Palacio sitting at podium 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kofi Annan, UN Security-General: "According to UN World Bank assessment, which is a collaborative effort of a large number of UN agencies and international financial institutions including the IMF (International Monetary Fund) 36.5 billion (US dollars) will be needed for the years 2004 to 2007, including 9.3 billion (US dollars) for 2004. But of course success not only depends on the availability of resources, but also on a number of factors. First and foremost is security, this will be the primary constraint both now and in the foreseeable future. Second is Iraqi ownership and leadership. That means Iraqis defining their own priorities deciding on strategies and managing the activities that ensue. Third, any long-term institutional changes in Iraq's legal and economic and physical framework must have legitimacy especially since such changes will effect future generations. Reconstruction is thus linked closely to the wider political process. I know we all look forward to the earliest possible establishment of the sovereign Iraqi government, but a start on reconstruction cannot be deferred until that day. It demands our urgent attention now. I appeal to donors to give and give generously and for those contributions to be divided in assistant commitments." 6. Delegates in audience, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell on far right 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kofi Annan, UN Security-General: "I will do my utmost to implement the mandate established by Security Council Resolution 15-11, bearing in mind the inevitable constraints of building up capacity required and my obligation to care for the safety and security of UN staff. The United Nations is determined to continue helping the Iraqi people as best as we can, from both inside and outside the country by providing humanitarian assistance and beginning reconstruction. As circumstances permit, I plan to proceed with other tasks indicated in the resolution." 8. Annan stands up and shakes hand with Palacio 9. Wide of Annan and Palacio leaving podium STORYLINE: US and Iraqi officials are pleading for (b) billions of US dollars to rebuild Iraq at a donors' conference that opened in Madrid on Thursday with appeals for generosity and warnings that they might not get all they need right away. Despite the unanimous approval last week of a new UN resolution setting out Iraq's future course, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan acknowledged that lingering divisions over Washington's still-prominent role in running the country might deter some donors. But he insisted such concerns should be set aside. He said security remains a primary constraint and that rebuilding the country is closely linked to the wider political process. Annan said Iraq's reconstruction demanded "urgent attention now" and appealed to donors to "give generously". Both were firm supporters of the war. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...