Commission signals imminent Iraq visit for Nielson

Date: 17/04/03

THE European Commission is planning to highlight its lead role in providing emergency aid to Iraq by sending its humanitarian chief Poul Nielson to the country.

The Commission confirmed that Nielson is keen to visit Iraq as soon as the security situation on the ground improves - perhaps in early May. He is due to discuss the possibility of a joint trip to Baghdad with Kenzo Oshima, head of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in New York next weekend (27-29 April).

ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian office, is the largest single donor to the Iraqi population, providing it with €157 million worth of assistance in 1992-2003. While ECHO has stressed that point in recent statements, spokesman Michael Curtis said that Nielson's visit would be more than a PR opportunity. "It's a question of showing Iraq that it's business as usual in terms of delivering humanitarian aid," he said.

Earlier this week Nielson wrote to Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, contending that the UN should take charge of accreditation for relief workers operating in Iraq. Aid agencies currently in the country are in legal limbo as visas issued by the Iraqi government appear to be no longer valid now that Saddam Hussein has been ousted.

Nielson's plea for "the UN to be in the driving seat" in this matter comes in response to fears that the US could decide which aid agencies can be based in the country and that this could impinge on their attempts to preserve impartiality.

Meanwhile, ECHO's Director-General Constanza Adinolfi has urged US and British forces to curb the looting, which has disrupted essential services in Iraq, including hospitals.

Under the Geneva Convention, occupying forces have a duty to maintain law and order.

Poul Nielson, the European Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid, is planning to visit Iraq as soon as the security situation improves.