UN envoy in Iraq meets more agency officials and financial bodies

The top United Nations official in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, continued his consultations on his second full day in Baghdad today to familiarize himself with all relevant issues as he seeks to define precisely what the world body’s role will be in the country’s reconstruction.

Mr. Vieira de Mello, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative, held a number of internal meetings with his staff, which includes representatives of various UN agencies, as well as with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

He also met with the President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Takao Kawakami, and his delegation, the first foreign aid mission to visit Baghdad since the war ended. Japan has made available $100 million in aid to Iraq, to be dispersed through various channels.

The Japanese are interested in contributing, among other things, to the repair of power stations and water supply and sewage systems, as well as health and medicine and the renovation of hospitals throughout the country.

Mr. Kawakami stressed his agency's intention to cooperate very actively with UN agencies. Mr. Vieira de Mello said he was glad to see Japan in Baghdad in the early days because "we need a truly international approach to the needs of this country."

Tomorrow, Mr. Vieira de Mello intends to hold the first of a series of meetings with the broadest possible spectrum of Iraqi society when he meets a group of professionals, including doctors and lawyers.