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Richard Roth: U.N. starting post-war healing

CNN's Richard Roth
CNN's Richard Roth

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The U.N. Security Council votes unanimously to adopt a U.S.-backed resolution on Iraq.
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Richard Roth
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- United Nations Security Council members on Thursday voted unanimously to adopt a U.S.-backed resolution on Iraq.

The resolution calls for an expanded role for the United Nations, encourages countries to offer more troops for Iraq and more money to rebuild the country, and addresses the transfer of sovereignty from the coalition to Iraq.

CNN anchor Daryn Kagan spoke with correspondent Richard Roth shortly after the vote about the significance of the decision.

ROTH: Well, it really represents at least the start, the official start of the healing of some of the deep wounds prior to the war and even afterwards, even though we had some [previous] agreement on Iraq resolutions.

It's a recognition by countries like Russia, France, Germany and Syria that the reality on the ground was what it was; that despite the violence, the people of Iraq were looking for assistance; and that for the sake of the world and unity on other issues -- Russia wants the U.S. to look the other way on Chechnya and other things -- it was time to get on board.

They are still saying, don't look for a large amount of contributions. They are still saying, "U.S., Britain, you're on your own. You voted for this, you pushed for the war, you wanted it, and you may have to work your way out of it still." And now that's going to be what the U.S. focuses on.

It always was expected to be a slow process, by the U.S., to get those four countries [to join]. They knew it would be a long way and they are going to have to keep at it, despite everybody running around saying they are going to lose this vote. They knew it wasn't going to be an overnight success.

This represents a big victory for them. Certainly, President Bush had a lot of one-on-one meetings here in New York [with] President Chirac, German Chancellor Schroeder -- it went a little better with the Germans -- and that's where we stand now.

France, Germany, Russia make clear in their speeches that they think the Iraqis need to receive a handover of power faster than the U.S. and Britain would like.

KAGAN: Symbolic victory for the U.S. and Britain, but at the end of the day, what difference is this going to make to the people in Iraq.

ROTH: I think they are going to feel better ... they are going to feel the unity. It's the uncertainty among the big powers, with the biggest influence and the biggest armies and the biggest money, which is what really alarms people.

It does carry weight that the Security Council is united and agrees. It means an endorsement, in effect, of the multinational force that will be there, and of the U.S. there. It's the biggest, in effect, endorsement post-facto of the war, though Russia, France and Germany would never want to agree to that.


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