C E B O . org

Posted 11:08 PM by The Moderator

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - The Group of 24 nations on Friday called for the United Nations to lead the effort to rebuild Iraq once the conflict ends, with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank playing a supporting role.

The group of emerging market economies, which includes Brazil, Argentina, India, Mexico and Nigeria, echoed a sentiment already stated by Germany, Russia and France, who want the United Nations to take the lead in rebuilding the war-torn nation. Those nations are concerned the U.S. push to have the World Bank and IMF take the lead in Iraqi reconstruction is a Bush administration effort to marginalize the United Nations.

"Ministers express grave concern about the serious situation prevailing in Iraq in the wake of the war and the resulting humanitarian plight of the civilian population and the destruction of the country's physical and social infrastructure," a communique, issued after the G24 met here, said.

"They call on the United Nations to address the situation in accordance with its charter, including the potentially large humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people and to contribute to the task of reconstructing the country following the war," it said.

Crucially, the G24 gives an insight into the sentiment among Muslim nations as to how the Iraqi reconstruction should be handled because it also includes Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon and Syria.

The G24 added the IMF and World Bank should also help out, but stressed such help should be offered "in full coordination with the U.N."
Reuters.com

Posted 11:14 PM by The Moderator

Anthony Simpson of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation has asked me to encourage leading U.S. peace organizers to consider participating in the second meeting of the European Network for Peace and Human Rights, which will be held in Brussells June 26 & 27. The Network brings together representatives of the major organizations and leading figures of the European peace movement and significant figures from the Middle East.

The June conference will provide a unique and important opportunity to engage with our European and Middle East counterparts, to learn from them and to share our perspectives on the Bush Administration's global military crusade, its efforts to impose "the arrangement for the 21st century," our resistance, and to explore possible areas of collaboration for the coming period. I trust that you understand the importance of opening more channels with European peace movements and with anti-war and pro-democracy forces in the Middle East.

The Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Russell House,
Bulwell Lane, Nottingham NG6 0BT, England (www.russfound.org)
or by e-mail to elfeuro@compuserve.com or fax to 00 44 (0) 1159 420 433

Posted 12:03 AM by The Moderator

(This open plea has been delivered to members of the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States, and to the member nations of the Security Council.)

It Is Not Too Late For Reason and Courage
March 18, 2003 Washington, DC

In the harsh light of President George W. Bush's unilateral pronouncements last evening, and in accord with the positions of the American Humanist Association (AHA), we call upon the Congress of the United States and the Security Council of the United Nations to vigorously intervene and stop this unprovoked aggression against the people of Iraq before it begins. It is not too late for sound reason and genuine courage to prevail.

We call upon the members of the United States Congress, through House Joint Resolution 20 and Senate Resolution 32, to reassume their constitutional responsibility and reassert their just authority in matters of war.

We call upon the member nations of the United Nations Security Council to rescind or negate resolution 1441 and the other resolutions President Bush relies on for legitimization of his unjustifiable war plans.

It is not too late for reinvigorated means of non-violent containment and neutralization of threat to be effective.

It is not to late for people of goodwill to prevail.

Posted 12:01 AM by The Moderator

SECURITY COUNCIL TO REMAIN 'DEEPLY INVOLVED' WITH IRAQ IN APRIL, PRESIDENT SAYS
New York, Apr 2 2003 6:00PM
While the Security Council will continue to be deeply involved with the situation in Iraq, it will also add the issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to its agenda, the President of the 15-nation body for the month of April said today.

In a press briefing on the Council's monthly work programme, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser of Mexico recalled that the issue of the DPRK was referred to the Council in a letter sent by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in which he reports on the status of relations between the Agency and Pyongyang.

The topic would be tackled on 9 April, one day before the DPRK would be dispensed from its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, from which it had withdrawn, Ambassador Aguilar Zinser noted, adding that it was important to make sure that the results of the meeting were constructive in terms of finding a solution to that serious problem of international scope and relevance. Based on the consultations, the Council had unanimously decided to ensure that all its Members supported its decision on the matter.