The agenda is to take the necessary steps as fast as possible with as many short cuts as the Afghans will allow us to (put together) a provisional administration to take charge of Kabul on behalf of the whole people of Afghanistan. We've asked a number of countries and the United Arab Emirates was the first one to kindly say they would welcome a meeting there and we are extremely grateful to them, but we are discussing with the Afghans to see where it is more convenient for them to hold this meeting. |
The days and weeks ahead will severely test this new government, and the solution to Iraq's current challenges will take years, not months, to overcome. |
The elections scheduled to take place by January 2005 are the most important milestone in this process. Until that time, any Iraqi governing body that exists will be less than fully representative, |
The Iraqi authorities, the [Coalition Provisional Authority] will really need to see how they can provide security for us if they want us to come back. It's useless to bring in large numbers of people if they are confined to bunkers. |
The job is do-able, as long as we set principled but realistic targets, moving toward them with deliberate steps, and if we are not alone as we take them. We will need, in particular, the Security Council to be united behind us, and with us. |
The people we have met are at least asking themselves questions, at the very, very least. I think they are looking for a consensus. |
The sooner a credible Iraqi government is in place to lead the way, the better, especially because the absence of such a sovereign government is part of the problem in the first place, |
There are growing pressures on us -- in part from the donor community -- to say there is a limit to what you can stand. |
There is no question of that. No one has asked and we are not looking for a job. |
This incident, which follows similar incidents, adds to a sense of insecurity and fear in the country, |
Though it will certainly not be easy, we do believe that it shall be possible to identify, by the end of May, a group of people respected and acceptable to Iraqis across the country, to form this caretaker government. |
We think that there are millions of people at risk, not because of the bombing campaign...but because of the drought, because of the civil war that has been going on for a long time, ... This humanitarian activity must continue. |
we will have to put our heads together to see what to do. |
What we are suggesting here has the merit of enjoying the support of many Iraqis with whom we have met, and is reasonably simple and straightforward, |
when sovereignty will be restored to Iraq. |