The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
“I hope the
Iraqi people hear this message. We are with you. Our enemy is not
you,
but your
barbarous rulers.
“Our
commitment to the post-Saddam humanitarian effort will be total. We
shall help
Iraq move
towards democracy. And put the money from Iraqi oil in a UN trust
fund so
that it
benefits Iraq and no-one else.”508
1193.
Ms Short
set out to Mr Annan the need for a central UN role in
humanitarian
and
reconstruction work.
1194.
Mr Annan
emphasised the need to have clarity on US thinking for
UN
planning to
proceed.
1195.
Ms Short
visited New York and Washington on 19 and 20 March for talks with
the
UN, US,
World Bank and IMF.
1196.
In New York,
Ms Short underlined to Mr Annan and senior UN officials
“the
political,
legal and practical necessity for a central UN role in humanitarian
and
reconstruction
work, and the strong contribution the UK would make to
this”.509
Mr Annan
agreed and
emphasised the need for clarity on US thinking so planning could
proceed.
1197.
In Washington,
Ms Short emphasised to senior officials in USAID, the NSC
and
the State
Department the need for early agreement on a resolution to extend
OFF.510
She also
raised the issue of an “omnibus” resolution on post-conflict
administration. It
was
“practically and politically” important to the UK that the UN play
a central role in the
administration
of post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.
1198.
At the IMF and
World Bank, Ms Short was informed that both institutions
were
well
advanced with preparatory work and ready to engage in Iraq as soon
as conditions
allowed.511
Ms Short
explained that a resolution on OFF would be followed by
a
resolution
to establish an interim authority with the necessary legitimacy to
open the
door to IMF
and World Bank engagement and allow the comprehensive
restructuring
of Iraq’s
economy to begin.
1199.
How the
overall cost of reconstruction would be met remained
unclear.
1200.
Ms Short
informed the Treasury that reconstruction costs would need to
be
considered
in the longer term, after the completion of an IFI-led needs
assessment
in
Iraq.
508
The
National Archives, 20 March 2003, Prime
Minister’s Address to the Nation.
509
Telegram
501 UKMIS New York to FCO London, 21 March 2003, ‘Iraq
Humanitarian/Reconstruction:
Clare
Short’s Visit to New York’.
510
Telegram
370 Washington to FCO London, 21 March 2003, ‘US: Iraq: Ms Short’s
Visit’.
511
Telegram 25
UKDel IMF/IBRD Washington to FCO London, 24 March 2003, ‘IMF/World
Bank: Iraq:
Visit of
Secretary of State for International Development’.
524