Economic And Social Council On Rebuilding Afghanistan And Iraq - Mozambique's Point Of View

Ever since the United States went to Iraq and started the chase of conquering Saddam Hussein, the US military and coalition have been rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure and the government with the help of many allies of the United States. France, who initially opposed the war, even decided to help Iraq. The Prime Minister of Japan (one the member states of the UN), in June 4th during a newspaper interview for The Japan Times, said that "the international community needs to promote the involvement of the UN in rebuilding Iraq". The member states who are currently involved in The Paris Club did just that. Since Iraq owed a estimated deficit of 42 billion dollars to the member states (the largest portions of the deficit were that of Russia, Japan, Germany and France), the countries who were waiting for the larger portion of the deficits to be repayed did something about it .

One of the thing they've accomplished is that they have made a proposition - an "80% waiver" for the members of the Paris Club to ponder over. Something else the debt demanding countries have done is actually accepting the proposition. During the midday hours of Sunday, November 21, 2004, The Paris Club (of creditor nations), with the exception of Russia, agreed to relieve Iraq of up to 80% of the debts owed to each nation. This agreement to write off the Iraqis' unpaid credits would be a major step toward relieving the country from paying interest on the debts as it also tries to reinstate its economic conditions. However, Iraq owes another $80 billion to many Arab states. Its government has said that its overall foreign debt of $122 billion is impeding the postwar reconstruction throughout the country. Mozambique realizes the pressures that the country of Iraq is getting from the huge deficit number.

United Nations Involvement

In the beginning of the Iraq situation, the UN was only a small role for the rebuilding of Iraq. So Russia, Germany, and Spain pushed for the UN to have a more active and enhanced role concerning the rebuilding of Iraq. In May 22, 2003, The United Nations Security Council adopted a new resolution on Iraq. It granted wide temporary governing powers to the United States and its coalition partners. The resolution also lifted sanctions that were imposed almost 14 years ago following the invasion of Kuwait. Besides the member states of the United Nations passing resolutions and amassing propositions for the situation, the United Nations Security Council has also made reviews concerning Iraq and what to do there.

In Resolutions A/RES/7/1546, S/RES/1483, S/RES/1500, S/RES/1546, it states the global actions of a mandate to advise, assist, contribute and support the government of Iraq in its quest to re-establish peace among its communities. Those resolutions should be used as support when showing nations who don't support that it is their duty as good countries to assist. All the resolutions stated are ones that ask the international and regional groups to contribute support to Iraq.

Some NGOs that are involved with the rebuilding of Iraq are the Red Cross and the Iraq Foundation. A committee that is also involved with the rebuilding is the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security. Their goals for Iraq are to improve democracy and assist with the humanitarian efforts there.

Country Policies and Actions

Mozambique has acknowledged that the rebuilding of Iraq would help in the long run, because we have also experienced the need for rebuilding help in our country. The most important matter now is to restore civilian life and to resolve humanitarian problems. Mozambique stresses that the UN members who are situating their troops in Iraq must let the oppressed people of Iraq see what all these nations are doing for them. They must see, understand, and try to cooperate with the forces that are there. Mozambique also thinks that it should be up to US and Britain (as powerful occupiers) to maintain order and