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Is the US acting as a sole superpower by snubbing UN? Post your views

United Nations: The five permanent members of the Security Council have begun what promises to be long tortuous negotiations over the United States draft resolution aiming at establishing a multinational force in Iraq.

The draft seeks troops and money from other countries, but without America ceding authority in any field, including military operations and political process.

With its friend Britain the Council president for the current month, the United States is trying to get it through the Council before President George W Bush comes to the United Nations on September 23 to address the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Despite reservations expressed by France and Germany, diplomats say they have not closed doors for negotiations and Russia seems to be moving nearer to the American position.

The United States held first meeting with other four permanent members – Britain, Russia, France and China – on September 4 to hear their views and get a sense how far they would be prepared to go.

Washington, facing rising violence in Iraq, wants a UN mandated force to encourage countries like India, France, Russia and Turkey to contribute troops. They have refused to do so unless there is a UN mandate.

The major stumbling block is that the United States wants to keep total control with itself, while other major powers are seeking a say in decision making if they are to share the burden.

Meeting in Dresden, Germany, French President Jacques Chirac and German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder opposed the resolution, but indicated that a compromise is possible.

Both demanded more roles for UN in the political process and United Nations officials say that world body would like have a clear mandate.

"We are ready to examine the proposals, but they seem to be quite far from what appears to us the primary objective – the transfer of political responsibility to Iraqis," Chirac said.

At the United Nations, most of the Council ambassadors welcomed the American draft as a document to begin negotiations. But they expressed the view that major changes would need to be made before it can get the approval.

France, Russia and Germany have been demanding that the United States give a timetable to end occupation. The draft, without giving any time frame, calls on the Iraqi Governing Council to draw up a timetable in consultations with the US led coalition and the United Nations.

PTI