February 27, 2004

A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED FOLLOWING THE TALKS BETWEEN KING FAHD, CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH AND PRINCE SULTAN WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK EMPHASIZES THE REJECTION OF OUTSIDE IMPOSITION OF ANY REFORMS. A SAUDI-EGYPTIAN PAPER TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE SUMMIT IN TUNISIA OVER THE ARAB REFORMS. THE US ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO COOL DOWN THE REACTIONS OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION REGARDING ITS PROJECT AND CONFIRMS THAT IT WILL NOT BE IMPOSED ON ANY ONE. THE HEAD OF IRAQ'S TRANSITIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL HOLDS TALKS IN SAUDI ARABIA ON THE FUTURE SITUATION IN IRAQ. RIYADH AND KHARTOUM SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO SET UP A FOLLOW-UP AND POLITICAL CONSULTATION COMMITTEE. The Saudi and Egyptian leaderships agreed on a joint stance regarding reforming the Arab situation to be discussed at the next Arab foreign ministers' meeting. They also rejected outside imposition of reforms in the Arab world in an apparent reference to US calls for democracy in the Middle East. This came at the conclusion of the Saudi-Egyptian summit which was held in Riyadh last Tuesday. A Saudi-Egyptian joint communiqué issued following the visit of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to Saudi Arabia, which came in response to an invitation from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said President Mubarak discussed with the Saudi leadership focussing on international, regional, Arab and Islamic issues and bilateral relations between the two countries. The communiqué added that the leaders of the two countries affirmed that Arab countries are proceeding on the track of development, modernization and reform in agreement with the interests of their peoples, values, meeting of their needs, characteristics and Arab identity, and are rejecting the imposition of a certain reformist pattern on Arab and Islamic countries from abroad, the statement said. They noted that the concern of achieving stability in the Middle East necessitates finding a just and fair solution to the issues of Arab and Islamic countries topped by Palestine and Iraq. They agreed on a joint stand towards the reform of the Arab situation to be submitted to the next meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, Egypt. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz held at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh a meeting with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, during which there talks During the meeting, they discussed overall situations at Arab, Islamic and international arenas notably the Palestinian issue and Iraq. Aspects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields were also reviewed. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard; Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of the Council of Ministers' Presidency; ministers and senior officials. On the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sharif, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and other officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard held a meeting at his palace in Riyadh with President Mubarak. During the meeting, they discussed overall situations in the region notably the development of the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq and discussed the latest developments at Arab, Islamic and international arenas and the stands of the two countries towards them. Aspects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields were also reviewed. On the Saudi side, the meeting was attended by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Miteb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; Prince Abdul Ilah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Vice Governor of Riyadh Region. On the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Information Safwat Al-Sharif, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and other officials. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak had arrived in Riyadh where he was received at Riyadh Airbase, by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, other princes, ministers and senior officials. Crown Prince Abdullah held a luncheon party in honour of the Egyptian President and his accompanying delegation. At the end of President Mubarak's visit, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced their agreement on the need for launching political negotiations at the Palestinian and Syrian tracks as an initial step towards reaching a comprehensive settlement that could help ease down tension. They also underlined the need for reactivating the Arab peace initiative and rallying support for it before the next Arab summit. They also stressed the need for the Palestinian government to take over its responsibilities. This came in the joint communiqué which was issued following the talks held by President Mubarak with King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. These talks tackled various international and regional issues and bilateral relations. The leaders asserted that Arab countries are forging ahead along the march of development, modernization and reform in conformity with their peoples' interests and maintaining their Arab identity. They said Arab countries cannot accept any kind of reform imposed from abroad adding that maintaining the stability of the region requires reaching fair and just solutions to the Arab and Islamic nation issues, mainly the Palestinian issue and the Iraqi problem. "They agreed to a common position on improving the Arab situation, which they will present at the upcoming meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo," the communiqué said. The leaders of the two countries stressed the need to restart peace talks with Israel to achieve a comprehensive settlement and reduce tension. "They also agreed to revive the Arab peace plan endorsed by the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002." As regards the Iraqi issue, the leaders underlined the unity of Iraq and its territorial integrity rejecting any kind of interference in the Iraqi domestic affairs. They also underlined the right of the Iraqi people to determine their political future and build their independent state. The two countries emphasized that its territorial unity must be protected and its sovereignty and independence respected. They said they would not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs. The two countries emphasized the Iraqis' right to self-determination and establish their own state, and called on the United Nations to play a decisive role in the interim period. They said the United Nations should play a pivotal role during the interim period, adding that the UN should provide a favourable climate for the withdrawal of occupation troops as soon as possible. They welcomed the decisions adapted by the states neighbouring Iraq during their meeting which was held in Kuwait on February 14-15. On bilateral relations, the leaders reviewed the political, and economic aspects of relations and agreed on the need for exerting efforts to promote these relations based on the distinguished relations between the leaderships and the two brotherly peoples. Meanwhile, President Hosni Mubarak Wednesday received a phone call from US President George W. Bush on the situation in the Middle East as well as exchanging views between the two countries regarding boosting the peace process. The two leaders also took up necessary efforts and steps to end the deteriorating situation between Israel and the Palestinians, in addition to boosting the peace process on all tracks. Bush highlighted the importance of Mubarak's forthcoming visit to the US for discussing all issues of mutual concern and bilateral relations. The call came following President Mubarak's statement, in which he criticised the US project regarding the democratic reform in the Middle East. In the meantime, the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt agreed to submit a joint work paper on reforming the Arab condition to the Arab ministerial council by the beginning of next month. Prince Saudi Al-Faisal said in his press conference in Riyadh: ''the two sides agreed to submit a joint paper to the council of the next Arab League session over reforming the Arab situation, aiming at achieving Arab ambitions, in line with their interests and values and meets their requirements and particularities.'' He explained that this was made during the visit of President Hosni Mubarak to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara received on Wednesday two phone calls from his Egyptian Counterpart Ahmed Maher and from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal. Talks during the two phone calls dealt with the latest developments in the region and issues on the agenda of the Arab League's council on the level of Foreign Ministers which is scheduled to be held in Cairo next week, on top of which the issue of developing the joint Arab action. On the other hand, US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has tried to ease the concern expressed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia regarding the American reform projects in the Middle East by stressing that US would never suggest a reform plan that should come from outside. In an interview with Al-Hurra TV Channel, Powell said: ''The Greater Middle East Initiative, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative that is a part of the Greater Middle East Initiative, must be something that is acceptable to the parties in the region. These are sovereign nations.'' ''They have their own interests to protect. They have their own people, their own culture, their own identity, their own history. What we are trying to do is help each of them, in the way that they choose, to move forward down a path that I think is in their interests to move down. And all of them have indicated a commitment to democracy, to the rights of individuals,'' he added. ''I agree with the Egyptians and the Saudis: it can't be imposed from outside. It has to be accepted from the inside. And we hope that they will see the benefits of the initiative from inside the region,'' Powell added. President Mubarak has strongly denounced ready-made recipes imposed from abroad under the name of reform. He also denounced attempts by some quarters to impose these recipes on the countries and peoples of the region. In statements he gave to the Egyptian newspapers' chief editors and Middle East News Agency (MENA), on the flight back from Riyadh Tuesday night, President Mubarak said that it is his complete conviction that the region cannot do without making overall reforms provided that these reforms are drawn up by the peoples of the region to fit their needs and conform with their beliefs and traditions. Rejecting foreign attempts to intervene in the Middle East reform steps, he said that anybody believing that the peoples of the region would accept ideas imposed on them from the outside would be just deluding himself. The regional reform process must be gradual, President Mubarak said. This means that the peoples of the region must be allowed to sip their portion of reforms bit by bit, he added. Acting otherwise, could bring chaos and instability to the region, he warned. And what happened in Iraq is a good example of that, he noted. ''Every nation is governed by its own circumstances, values, traditions and roots, not to mention the physiological nature of its people, he said noting that all these things put together must be taken into consideration while planning reforms. President Mubarak said that the Arab nations are determined to reform and develop the Arab League and devise the necessary mechanisms to revive joint Arab action. Announcing a joint AL reform project that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria intend to float at the upcoming Arab Summit in Tunisia, President Mubarak said that Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher will discuss the contents of this project with his Arab counterparts at their forthcoming pre-summit meetings in Cairo. The current regional and international conditions are very critical and highly dangerous, he said highlighting the strenuous efforts and constant contacts he is making with world leaders to avoid any further deterioration. The Egyptian President stressed the significance of the upcoming Arab Summit in Tunisia and called for a joint Arab vision for tackling their own problems. ''We must, as Arabs have a joint vision on solving our problems, on what is proposed to us or proposed to the region in the form of ideas and initiatives,'' he said. As far as the Arabs are concerned, we are all aware of the need for reform and its importance, provided it emanates from within and is not imposed on us. We have actually started reform according to the dose our people can tolerate to prevent chaos,' he added. He cited the situation in Iraq as a clear example. Regarding the Arab League, a project has already been drawn up on the League's reform by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria and will be referred to the Arab Summit in Tunis following discussions at the coming Arab foreign ministers' meeting in Cairo, he said. He pointed out that the project focused on the fact that Arab action should emanate from an institutional and not an emotional system and therefore the joint Arab action would not be affected by any passing conditions. Politically, the project stresses the importance of having a unified vision regarding external dangers and the need to have a united Arab stance vis-a-vis outside attempts to intervene in regional affairs. Economically, there should be strong economic ties among the Arab countries in order to realize joint interests through establishing joint ventures and increasing trade exchange for the interests of everyone. He asserted the need to exert utmost efforts to establish the Arab common market and to have a joint Arab parliament and an Arab court of justice, pointing out that such projects should be implemented following more research and studies in conformity with the conditions of each state. President Mubarak reiterated that the backbone of the Arab League's reform lies in the modification of its statutes, pointing out that the Arabs need an active and decision-making league that reflects the one voice of the Arab nation. He warned against voices from here and there that aim at creating sedition and division, adding that some of the presented ideas do not actually aim at the interests of the Arabs but rather target suspicious interests. þRegarding the Middle Eastern Reformatory Project, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal called for þ increasing the understanding of the West and building relations based on þ interest to achieve shared futuristic values, considering the area's inability þ to solve its own problems as false understanding that needs to be corrected.þ þ He added that there are a number of suggestions to correct the Arab þ situation and improve the format of the AL that needs a unified vision from þ the Gulf countries to present them in the Arab Summit in Tunisia. þþ In his periodical press briefing, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asserted at the International Court of Justice that the wall is illegal and blatantly violates Geneva IV Agreement and all international resolutions and conventions in this regard. On Iraq, Prince Saud said that the Kingdom welcomed the outcome of the Kuwait recently held fifth conference of Iraq's neighbouring countries, noting that these countries affirmed their readiness to support all diplomatic and political efforts aiming at achieving the desired objectives to enable Iraq to practice its positive role as an effective member of the world community and to establish positive relations with its neighbours based on peace and respect in accordance with the rules of international laws and conventions. He indicated that the Kingdom and Egypt rejected any reformist pattern imposed from abroad, pointing out that the future of the Arab region should be decided by its own peoples. Prince Saud added that the achievement of stability in the region necessitates just and fair solutions to the issues of the Arab and Islamic countries, topped by the Palestinian cause and the situation in Iraq. On an Arab free trade zone, he reiterated the Saudi support and encouragement for any Arab bilateral or collective cooperation in this field. Regarding the meeting of GCC foreign ministers, he said the meeting will be held on time and will discuss the issue of rectifying the Arab situation which is presented to the Arab League council. On Arab reforms, he said the Arab countries carry out the reforms that are based on the interest of their peoples, adding that the ground of reforms has been internal and should not come from abroad. Prince Saud Al-Faisal had received at his office in Riyadh the envoy of Russian Foreign Minister for Middle East Peace Process Alexander Klughen. During the meeting, bilateral relations were discussed as well as the latest developments in the world. The meeting was attended by the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr. Andre Baklanov and other officials. Prince Saud Al-Faisal also received the US Undersecretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs Dr. Allen B. Larson. The US government says it accepts that the pace of economic and political reform in the Middle East must be set by the governments in the region, has to be in line with their capacity to absorb change, and not be imposed from outside. This was the message at a press conference held by US Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Alan P. Larson following talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard. US Ambassador James C. Oberwetter and other senior US Embassy officials were also present. Larson also met with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi in addition to visiting the King Faisal School for a look at the Kingdom's educational system. Later, he left for Cairo. The undersecretary's statement seemed to be a response to the earlier joint declaration by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah that the Arab states could "proceed on the path of development, modernization and reform in keeping with their people's interests and values." They declared that Arab states "do not accept that a particular pattern of reform be imposed on Arab and Islamic countries from outside." Asked about his talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, Larson said both governments recognized the need to bolster cooperation in the fields of energy and trade. "We also sought advice on promoting shared aims in the region, including opportunities for economic and social advancement." Larson said both governments recognized that "terrorism is a threat to all countries and certainly to the US and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There is strong cooperation between our two governments on this issue." During his talks with Al-Naimi, both sides brought up the prospect for joint investments and the situation in the international oil market. According to The New York Times, executives of Saudi Aramco and Western experts agree that the Kingdom's oil fields required new investments for development of new sources of oil to cope with the increased demand for oil. On the question of reopening the Saudi-Iraqi border at Arar, Larson said the matter was still under negotiation. As for easing visa restrictions, he said that it was a worldwide issue and not country-specific. The measures had been mandated by the US Congress, he added. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received a message from Sudanese President Omar Al-Basheer. The message was delivered to King Fahd by Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr. Mostafa Othman Ismael during an audience at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh . Minister Ismael also conveyed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the greetings and appreciation of President Al-Basheer. In turn, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent his greetings to the Sudanese President. Prince Saud Al-Faisal reviewed with his Sudanese counterpart Dr Mustafa Othman Ismael bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues. Later they signed an understanding memorandum between the Kingdom and Sudan for establishing a follow-up and political consultation committee. Prince Saud, in a press statement, said the understanding memorandum aims at continuous coordination between the Saudi and Sudanese foreign ministries. He noted that he had reviewed with Ismael bilateral relations and issues pertaining to the agenda of the Arab League's ministerial council. Prince Saud highlighted the existing fraternal relations between the Kingdom and Sudan, and reiterated the keenness of the Kingdom on further cementing these relations. On his part, Ismael hailed the support extended by the Kingdom to Sudan. He underlined the importance of the understanding memorandum, and said it would positively contribute to further enhancing bilateral relations. The memorandum of understanding setting up a "follow-up and political consultation committee" was signed by Ismael and Prince Saud. The agreement provides for "constant coordination between the two foreign ministries" in the interest of both countries and with the aim of promoting joint Arab action, Prince Saud said. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, received Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr. Mustafa Othman Ismael and the accompanying delegation. They reviewed issues of mutual interest. Prince Salman, who was briefed by Dr. Mustafa Othman Ismael on the latest developments in Sudan, highlighted the existing distinguished Saudi-Sudanese relations. The meeting was attended by Sudanese ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Othman Al-Dirdeeri. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received Ugandan Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr. Mohammad Kabsooli. The Ambassador conveyed to King Fahd greeting of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. In turn, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques sent his greetings to the President. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of the Council of Ministers' Presidency, Mohamed Al-Nuwaiser, Chief of the Royal Court and number of officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of condolences to Morocco's King Mohammed VI on the victims of the strong earthquake that hit the surroundings of north Morocco's city of Al-Hoceima, killing more than two hundred people and injuring a big number of residents in the area. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd expressed his warmest condolences on theloss of people and damage of properties, also expressing his sympathy for the relatives of the victims. Similar cables were sent to the Moroccan King by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation, and Inspector General. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz also phoned Morocco's King Mohammed VI. During the call, the Crown Prince expressed his warmest condolences on the victims of the strong earthquake that hit the surroundings of north Morocco's city of Al-Hoceima, praying to Almighty Allah to preserve Morocco and Islamic countries from any harm . The Moroccan King thanked the Crown Prince for his condolences. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the US Undersecretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs Dr. Allen B. Larson. The US official conveyed regards of US President George W. Bush to the Crown Prince who, in turn, sent his best wishes to the US President. The audience was attended by Prince Miteb Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs, and the US Ambassador to the Kingdom James C. Oberwetter. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Defence, Aviation and Inspector General, phoned King Mohammad VI of Morocco. During the conversation, Prince Sultan expressed his condolences to victims of the strong earthquake that hit the surroundings of north Morocco's city of Al-Hoceima, praying to Almighty Allah to preserve Morocco and Islamic countries from any harm. The Moroccan King thanked Prince Sultan for his condolences. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, also phoned King Mohammad and offered condolences. In Sanaa, the Yemeni Council of Ministers endorsed, during its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdul Kader Bajamal, the outcomes of the meetings of the Joint Preparatory Committee of the Saudi-Yemeni Co-ordination Council, which was held in Riyadh from 17 to 20 of January 2004. In Washington, CIA Director George Tenet lauded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts and commitments in combating terrorism, explaining that the Saudi security men proved this commitment by devoting themselves in order to put an end to terrorism in the Kingdom. þTestifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tenet said that þalthough progress had been made in damaging the structure of Al-Qaeda, there þcontinued to be a worldwide threat from a ''global movement infected by Al-þQaeda's radical agenda.þ As far ahead as can be seen, a ''serious þthreat'' will exist of terrorism from admirers and emulators of Osama Bin þ Laden. ''The steady growth of Osama Bin Laden's anti-US sentiment through the wider Sunni extremist movement, and the broad dissemination of Al-Qaeda's þdestructive expertise, ensure that a serious threat will remain for the foreseeable future - with or without Al-Qaeda in the picture.'' þ Tenet said U. intelligence agencies were learning more and more about Al-þQaeda's plans, capabilities and intentions. ''What we have learned continues to þvalidate my deepest concern - that this enemy remains intent on obtaining and using catastrophic weapons.''þ þþ þOn the Iraqi arena, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of National Guard, received the Head of Iraqi Governing Council Dr. Mohsen Abdul Hameed and his accompanying delegation. The audience was attended by Prince General Miteb Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs; Dr. Saud Ibn Saeed Al-Mathami, Minister of State and Cabinet Member for Shoura Council Affairs; and Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, had received Head of Iraq's transitional Governing Council Dr. Mohsen Abdul Hameed and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments in Iraq. Prince Salman affirmed the importance of security and stability in Iraq and the world, hoping success for the Iraqi delegation in their effort towards progress and prosperity in Iraq. Dr. Mohsen arrived in Riyadh on a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was received at King Khaled International Airport by Minister of state Dr. Saud Ibn Saeed Al-Multahimi. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan praised Japan's contribution to Iraq's reconstruction and called on to resolve issues þrelated to North Korea in a speech at the Japanese Parliament.þ þ ''Japan has become one of those countries that have taken the lead in þembracing this challenge of rebuilding Iraq,'' speaking at the Upper House, þ Annan said.þ He noted that, after a difficult debate, Japan has dispatched the þSelf-Defence Forces (SDF) to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to help þ rebuild the country, referring to division in the Japanese public over the SDF þdispatch in light of the war-renouncing Constitution.þ þ þAnnan stressed that a more secure environment in Iraq is necessary before the UN þ reopens its office to help rebuild the country.þ ''I am prepared to send the team back in. But for the UN staff to go back þ in larger numbers and establish themselves, a more secure environment is þ absolutely essential,'' Annan said at a press conference in Tokyo.þ þ ''Otherwise I risk repeating the experience of 19th August,'' Annan told þ reporters, referring to a large explosion at the UN headquarters in Baghdad þthat killed more than a dozen people, including top UN Iraq official Sergio þVieira de Mello. þBut Annan ruled out a deployment of UN peacekeepers to Iraq and said þ multilateral forces will likely stay in Iraq even after the planned June 30 þ handover of power to an interim Iraqi government by the US-led Coalition þ Provisional Authority.þ þ ''I do not foresee UN blue helmets being deployed to Iraq. However, I do þforesee the Security Council deciding to maintain an international, multilateral force in Iraq even after the handover to help improve security þ and reconstruct the country," he said. The UN leader acknowledged that the limits of the UN security þsystem became evident with the Iraq war, but emphasized the world body still has a key role to play, including in Iraq.þ He added, ''I have to admit we did take a rather hard knock last year. We þtook a hard knock because of the war,'' which the UN Security Council failed þto either stop or authorize.þ ''So we are blamed by both sides,'' he said.þ þ ''I won't be naive to think that all Iraqis see the UN as heroes. But from the report the team brought back, there is a social sense that the UN can help and we will work on that help,'' Annan added.þ þThe Secretary-General told reporters he had studied the report and recommendations of the fact-finding mission to Iraq led by his envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi. He went on to say that he would release the report of the team's work the following day in New York. "Let me stress that the international cooperation would be essential as we move ahead and help the Iraqi people regain their sovereignty and build a peaceful, democratic and stable Iraq", the Secretary-General said. He told the press that he briefed the Japanese Prime Minister on Iraq and the fact-finding mission. "We both agreed that the electoral issue is extremely important and we need to find a way of moving forward. We need to find a mechanism." "We're working, of course, with the Iraqis, helping the Iraqis determine a mechanism for establishing an interim or transitional government so that the transfer of power, which is anticipated on the 30th of June, will go ahead," he said. He went on to say: "We also talked about the role of the United Nations and the importance of the United Nations going back to Iraq and I assured the Prime Minister that the United Nations has always been ready to play its role and shared with him the plans we have for doing that on condition that security would not be an impediment because it is an essential condition for the work of the United Nations for average Iraqi people and also for all the things that we want to do in Iraq." "So the UN is ready to play its role as the (Security) Council indicated once the circumstances are right", he said. "We are preparing ourselves to play that role." þEarlier, Kofi Annan had said that elections in Iraq could not take place until late this year or early next year and are dependent on Iraqis enacting an election law, among other things. In a report to the UN Security Council, Annan said elections could be held by the end of 2004 if preparations for a "legal and institutional framework" began immediately. But he said it was more likely that elections could not be held until 2005. "If the work was started immediately and the required political consensus was reached fairly rapidly, it would be possible to hold elections by the end of 2004," Annan said in the report. "At least eight months are required to prepare a credible election in Iraq, once the legal framework is agreed upon." Annan's report was issued after the visit to Iraq earlier this month of an electoral team headed by his senior adviser Lakhdar Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister. In Baghdad, þþUS Civil Administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer said þ the authority welcomes the UN Fact-Finding Committee's report on the political þ developments in Iraq.þ Bremer, in a press release, considered the report a great contribution to þ achieve the authority's goal in handing sovereignty to the Iraqis.þ þ Bremer added that the authority agrees with the UN on the importance of þ having elections in Iraq as soon as possible, but in the mean time, he added, the authority shares the UN's misgivings of having elections within the next þfew months.þ þ He said the report clearly noted the importance of transferring sovereignty þto the Iraqis by June 30, asserting that ''the coalition authority will keep þ this promise''.þ Bremer expressed the Coalition Authority's hopes that the UN would take þpart in Iraq to achieve futuristic goals, among which creating an Iraqi þ government on June 30.þ þ Also in Iraq, witnesses say that a fire erupted in a strategic Iraqi oil pipeline between the north and the south after the explosion. The attack coincided with the arrival of the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to Baghdad in an undisclosed visit aiming at evaluating the security situation in the country. This is the fourth visit to be carried out by Rumsfeld since the invasion led by the US against Iraq in 2003. Paul Bremer, received Rumsfeld at Baghdad's airport before he headed for an American military base in the capital, Baghdad. The US Defence Secretary expressed upon his arrival in Baghdad his country's concern over what he described attempts of Al-Qaeda organization members who sneaked into the lines of resistance to plant disputes between the Shiite, Sunni and Kurds in Iraq. Rumsfeld stressed in his comments on the attack which targeted the headquarters of Karkouk police that there is a clear activity for Al-Qaeda in Iraq. In a statement in Kuwait where he had started his tour on Sunday, Rumsfeld vowed that democracy will be deeply rooted in Iraq despite the state of security, but he refrained from predicting the date when the elections will be made following handing over the authority to the Iraqis due on June 30th. The Iraq war was justified and is allowing þthe United States to work toward ''bringing stability, peace, prosperity and a þnew dignity to the Iraqi people, and to the people of the entire region,'' þ Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Friday. ''And that is what we are doing.þ It will be difficult and complicated,'' Powell said in a major foreign policy þ address delivered at Princeton University.þ þ ''Creating a democracy in a place and out of material where there is no þexperience with democracy will not be easy,'' he added.þ ''But Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq -- working with the Iraqi þGoverning Coalition, the United Nations and coalition partners will þ þsucceed,'' Powell said.þ þ ''Not only have the coalition forces rid the world of a regime that was simultaneously building palaces for its pampered and digging mass graves for þits innocents,'' Powell said. ''The object lesson of the war has led to some þimportant successes in the non-proliferation area. So do not let anybody be confused about the debates that are going on. America did the right thing. We þnow know a lot more about proliferation activity.''þ þ For decades, Saddam Hussein played a cat-and-mouse game with the world over þhis weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Powell said. ''He and his gang tried to blackmail others,'' he added. þ þ ''They lied. They kept waving the spectre of nuclear, biological and chemical þweapons into the face of the civilized world. Saddam also hosted and supported several terrorist groups over many years, þcreating a laboratory where WMD and terrorism could mix,'' Powell added.þ þ ''In that sense, Iraq was an even more dangerous place than Taliban-ruled þ Afghanistan, and it would have been irresponsible for us not to have taken þ that danger seriously,'' Powell said.þ The continuing question of why WMD stockpiles have yet to be found in Iraq þ is not, in the larger scheme of things, the only or even the main question þthat should be focused on, he added.þ þ ''Iraq and Saddam Hussein clearly had the human and technical capabilities to develop weapons of mass destruction,'' Powell said. ''They had the programs þin place. They never lost the intention to have such weapons.''þ þ ''Had the international community not acted, if sanctions had been withdrawn þand Saddam had been allowed to ignore the will of the international community, þit was just a matter of time before that intention, capability, delivery þsystem and all the other wherewithal he had would have produced the stockpiles that would have threatened his own people again, threatened the region and þ threatened the world,'' he said.þ þ ''The leaders of the United States, Britain, Spain, Australia, Italy and Poland understood that, weighed all the consequences, then acted decisively þ and appropriately,'' the US Secretary of State said. þþ þ