Lakhdar Brahimi, UN special envoy to Iraq, speaks with Omayma Abdel-Latif about the powers of, and limitations on, an Iraqi caretaker government The United Nations secretary-general's special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, could hide neither his "shock" nor "anger" over what he described as "outrageous behaviour" towards Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. In a telephone interview on Tuesday from London, Brahimi urged that "action be taken against the perpetrators of such crimes". What is more important, he continued, was that steps be taken to prevent the recurrence of such practices. "One fears that these practices are more widespread than what has been just revealed," Brahimi told Al-Ahram Weekly. He pointed out that any UN involvement in the investigation would be through the High Commission of Human Rights. "At this stage it is in the hands of the Americans who said they will make an inquiry so let's see how this unfolds. But the UN will look into any requests to investigate through the HCHR," he added. Brahimi believes that the incident provides a strong motivation to accelerate the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people. "Such actions make it more urgent to restore Iraqi sovereignty and make the Iraqi government master in its own house," he said. Brahimi is due back in Iraq next week to continue consultations with members of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) and other political groupings "to help them agree on how best to proceed" and put together a provisional government for the period between July 2004 and January 2005, when elections are due to take place. Since his appointment as the UN special envoy to Iraq earlier this year Brahimi, whose reputation is as a shrewd troubleshooter in conflict torn areas, has played a leading role in shaping the debate about the future provisional government. In a report submitted to the UN Security Council last month Brahimi proposed that a caretaker technocratic government, headed by a prime minister, should take over. He also suggested a president and two vice presidents. Some IGC members were angered by the plan's suggestion that those holding top-posts in the caretaker government should not be candidates in the forthcoming national elections -- a suggestion that effectively barred IGC members from participating in the caretaker government. While Brahimi agrees that his proposal was "not final" he defended the plan which was, he said, the fruit of close coordination between the UN and the Iraqis. He pointed out that while differences among IGC members over the form of the government exist they are moving in the direction of achieving a consensus. Asked whether or not he had received any feedback from Iraq's most prominent Shia authority, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, vocal in his criticism of the political process in Iraq, Brahimi conceded none had been received to date. "But," he added, "I believe the views of Ayatollah Sistani are very important and useful. We try to keep him informed." Sistani, Brahimi continued, "is an important figure in Iraqi politics although he always stresses that he does not want to participate in purely political issues." Brahimi did not hide his frustration with rhetoric on any UN role that is not supported by action. "They keep saying we want a vital role for the UN but what is this vital role about?" he asked. Security Council members -- including the two occupying powers in Iraq -- will, he argued, have to define what is expected from the UN. "The secretary-general will then have to decide if what is asked from the UN is doable and what the tools will be that are needed for the job." For the moment it looks certain that the UN will assist in organising elections. "The UN will provide technical assistance and consultation on elections. What else the UN will do depends on the debate that will take place in the Security Council." Brahimi ruled out that the UN will be participating in peace-keeping missions in Iraq after the transfer of sovereignty. "A UN peace-keeping force in blue helmets is out of question. What is being discussed is a multi national force composed of governments willing to participate and authorised by the Security Council," he explained. But just how much sovereignty will be given to Iraqis, and what will be the powers of the new government? "I think sovereignty will be fully restored to the people of Iraq," says Brahimi. "Sovereignty after all still belongs to the people and when Bremer -- the US civil administrator in Iraq -- leaves on 1 July he is not going to take it with him." But the caretaker government, Brahimi explained, will possess limited powers because its sole task is to expedite matters until elections take place. Its room for manouevre will also be circumscribed, inevitably, by the existence of 130,000 troops. Brahimi believes one of the most important tasks of the new government will be to hold immediate talks to discuss the conditions under which troops will remain in Iraq and what role they will assume in a sovereign Iraq. US officials have repeatedly stressed Washington does not want to relinquish the security file after the power transfer. Brahimi believes that proper security will be restored to the Iraqis only when "Iraqi state institutions like the army and the police are reconstructed". Asked whether the deteriorating security situation was impeding the political process, Brahimi reversed the formula. "I think a successful political process will help improve security ... this is why we need more of the political process and not less but this process has to be mindful of what the real problems are."
