LIBERIA:

Nigeria has agreed to send two battalions to Liberia as the start of a broader force by the international community. The date of their deployment has not been set. They will remain until combatants are disarmed and elections are held. Jacques Klein, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative, said, "Hopefully once that ECOWAS structure [is] in place, that would trigger the American response," he said, adding that in the meantime, the US Government has offered $10 million to help sustain the logistical needs of the battalions.

On July 25, Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the decision by the United States to position troops near Liberia to support deployment of West African forces to stabilize Liberia.

IRAQ:

On July 21, Monday, the NGO Working Group for Women, Peace and Security met with Sir Jeremy Greenstock. Britain's ambassador to the United Nations for five years, Greenstock is about to become a deputy to L. Paul Bremer in the American-led CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority). I did not attend, but at our meeting on Thursday learned how disappointing the meeting was. Greenstock said his wife would be handling the issues the group was there to discuss! However, two days after the meeting his statement to the Security Council sounded promising in regards to women's participation in the new government. On the 24th we met with Jonathan Prentice, assistant to Siergio Vieira de Mello (Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Iraq) who is the UN voice in the CPA. Four of us met with him. I was impressed that he took the time while he was in the country, but I could not help but wonder how much sway his office has. His boss has met with many women's groups in Iraq and when we told him we had a list of such groups he was happy to have it and to compare it to his for additions.

On July 22, the Security Council received its first full update on the CPA, since it recognized the body. In attendance were Adnan Pachacki, Ahmed Chalabi and (Mrs.) Aqeela al-Hashimi, three members of Iraq's new Governing Council. Mrs. Aqeela al-Hashimi is one of three women members. In his statement, Kofi Annan stressed five "fundamental principles." The need to:

" To respect Iraq's independence and territorial integrity,
" To restore the people's sovereignty as soon as possible,
" To respect their right to determine their political future,
" To respect the country's sovereignty over its territory and natural resources,
" To restore Iraq as a full partner in the international community at ease with its neighbors.

In his statement Ambassador Negroponte, US Permanent Representative to the UN, said, "The role of women in Iraq's political development should not be overlooked." He praised the conference, "Voice of Women in Iraq" held on July 9 which was organized by a steering group of Iraqi women, and assisted by the CPA and the UN (UNIFEM, UNDP, and UNICEF).

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