Annan’s special adviser heads to Washington for talks on post-conflict Iraq

Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s top adviser on developing a framework for United Nations involvement in post-conflict Iraq, is meeting with top United States government officials in Washington, D.C., today.

The US State Department invited Rafeeuddin Ahmed, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser to Washington for a series of briefings on Iraq, involving State Department, Defense Department and National Security Council personnel, according to a Spokesman at UN Headquarters in New York.

“Mr. Ahmed hopes to get a clearer picture of the coalition’s thinking on post-conflict Iraq, as part of his on-going work for the Secretary-General,” Hua Jiang said.

Formally appointed Special Adviser last week, Mr. Ahmed has been assisting the UN system informally since February in thinking about possible involvement in a post-war Iraq. He will now act as the focal point in the Organization for discussions on the various scenarios for such a role. He will also advise the Secretary-General on any role that the Security Council might eventually mandate the UN system to carry out once the current military campaign has come to an end.