2006年VOA标准英语-Annan: Most Middle East Leaders See Iraq as 'Di

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
13 September 2006
 
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says most leaders he visited on his recent trip to the Middle East told him the U.S. campaign in Iraq has been a disaster for them. In a wide-ranging news conference, Mr. Annan also said he sees a slight shift in Iran's position on suspending uranium enrichment.

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Kofi Annan at UN press conference, Sept. 13, 2006


 
 
 



The secretary-general says that in conversations with regional leaders in the Middle East, he found two schools of thought on Iraq.

"There were many leaders who felt the Americans should stay until the situation improves, and that having created the problem, they cannot walk away," he said. "Then you have another school of thought, particularly in Iran, that believe the presence of the U.S. is a problem and that the U.S. should leave."

But he said regardless of which outcome the leaders favored, most agreed the enterprise has been harmful to them.

"Honestly, most of the leaders felt the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath has been a real disaster for them, they believe it has destabilized the region," he said.

In an hour-long question and answer session with reporters, Mr. Annan declined to give his own thoughts on whether it is time for a U.S. withdrawal 1 from Iraq. He said the issue poses a dilemma 2 for American policymakers.

"In a way the U.S. has found itself in a position where it cannot stay and cannot leave, and if it [the U.S.] has to leave, the timing 3 has to be optimum, and arranged in such a way that it doesn't lead to even greater disruption or violence in the region," he said.

Mr. Annan also faced a barrage 4 of questions about the status of talks on Iran's suspect nuclear program. He spoke 5 hopefully about the outcome of talks between European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani, and said he believes he has detected a slight change in Iran's rejection 6 of calls to suspend uranium enrichment.

"I do note that there is a slight shift, I wouldn't say it's a major shift, a slight shift in the sense that they are now saying that, let's negotiate, suspension will be on agenda and maybe possible during negotiations 7, not that it's outright 8 rejections," he said.

Mr. Annan said he is urging Iranian leaders to be more forthcoming about their nuclear program, while asking the Security Council to be more patient.

"So I think it's a question of a bit more confidence and each focusing on issue at hand and what it takes to settle without artificial deadlines.  That leads to complications," he said.

Mr. Annan said the futures 9 of Iran and Iraq will be among the main topics he will discuss with leaders visiting U.N. headquarters next week for the opening of the annual General Assembly debate.

President Bush will address the Assembly Tuesday, along with a host of other leaders, including French President Jacques Chirac and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Leaders from other hotspots in the Middle East, such as Lebanon and Iraq, will speak later in the week.