UN resolution on Iraq

It has long been this newspaper's position that the occupation of Iraq by the US-led coalition is contrary to international law and that the sooner that full sovereignty is returned to the Iraqi people, the better. The question which now remains is to what extent the transfer of power to the interim government contemplated by the UN resolution will accomplish this transfer of sovereignty and whether full sovereignty for the Iraqi people will ensue.

The sticking point in negotiations over the wording of the resolution was whether the interim government would retain veto rights over the use of foreign troops in Iraq. The resolution stopped short of granting the interim government veto power, but makes clear that foreign troops can only remain in Iraq at the behest of the government, and that the foreign forces must act only in full partnership and consultation with the Iraqi authorities.

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There is a long way to go. The interim government is by no means representative, and it remains to be seen how smoothly the transition from a hand-picked government of appointees to a national assembly to a democratically elected government proceeds. Only when a democratically elected Iraqi government is in power and foreign troops leave its soil will Iraqis truly be able to boast of having attained full sovereignty.

In the meantime, the UN resolution is a good indicator, but it is still too early to tell whether there is light at the end of the tunnel. Whether Iraqis will accept the authority of the interim government, whether the June 30 hand-over will lead smoothly to full democracy, and how differences between the interim government and the US authorities will be resolved in practice, are all questions that remain unanswered.