Concerning the development of a situation around Iraq.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is concerned with an aggravation of the situation in Iraq, in particular, with the existing tendencies which can testify about the probabilities of the further escalation of the conflict and preservation of instability in the country, as well as with the quantity of victims among the Iraqi population, foreign citizens and military personnel who take part in stabilization processes in this country.
It is necessary to note some aspects, which interfere with the positive development of the situation. First of all, it is the perception by many of Iraqi people of the Coalition forces as the occupational forces, as well as the dissemination of anti-American mood among a significant part both Sunni and Shiite population of Iraq, carried out with the help of active agitation-and-propaganda activity of the Iraq political organizations of a radical course. Besides, a significant part of representatives of the political forces of Iraq adhere to a critical position concerning legitimacy of the new Iraqi government to which the power will be transferred after June, 30 this year.
In this context Ukraine considers, that an optimal variant for the peaceful solution of the Iraqi problem and the creation of the state institutions in Iraq is the strengthening of the UN role during the formation of a political and constitutional system in this country.
The international forces in Iraq which carry out their function of guaranteeing safety and stability in Iraq can continue the mission in this country as peace-making forces under the aegis of the United Nations.
The role of the UN, in our opinion, will promote the settlement of the conflict situation which is connected with the critical position of some Iraqi political groups on the legitimacy of the future sovereign government, as well as with non-acceptance by many Iraqis of the possibility of further stay in the country of a foreign military contingent as occupational forces.
Ukraine considers its military presence in Iraq as such that is directed on performance of peace making and stabilization functions only.
The further stay of our military personnel in Iraq will be determined by the obligations of Ukraine which were taken at the decision-making enter to the stabilisation forces in Iraq, by the solving of an issue of granting the UN a supervising role in peace-making activity in this country, as well as by the position of the future sovereign Iraqi government.
Ukraine always stated its readiness for active participation in conflicts settlement and safety guaranteeing operations under the aegis of the United Nations. Therefore we are ready for further carrying out of our peace-making functions in Iraq within the UN forces and to assist formation of a stable situation in this country. Ukraine is also ready to take an active part in humanitarian programs, as well as in the programs of social and economic nature.
In the near future Ukraine will adhere to the course of further preservation of its stabilisation military forces presence in Iraq, maintenance of an appropriate level of the Ukrainian contingent's safety and of the performance of its peace-making mission according to the obligations.
Ukraine supports the initiatives concerning granting the UN the larger powers in Iraq, the prompt UN Security Council Resolution on Iraq, based on the American - British draft, which would confirm the transferring of the sovereignty to Iraqis, legitimacy of the Provisional government of this country, its power to determine the expediency of the further preservation of foreign military presence authorised by the United Nations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine May, 2004.
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