ARABS-UN - Jan. 13 - Return To Iraq Under Study.

In a letter, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast tells US ambassador the UN has decided to send 4 military and security experts to Baghdad within 2 weeks to study safety provisions in preparation for a possible early return of staff members to Iraq. "The return to Iraq of UN international staff is contingent in part on acquiring and upgrading suitable working and living accommodations and enhancing security arrangements", Prendergast's letter reads. "In that connection, there is an early requirement to strengthen our liaison with the coalition forces so that the UN is able, among other things, to supervise facilities upgradings and other security enhancements from a safe interim location in Baghdad". Sec-Gen Annan withdrew all international staff members from Iraq in October after attacks on relief workers and the Aug. 19 bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 22 people including the mission chief. The US and some members of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) have been pressing Annan to recommit the UN before a transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people by end-June. But he has insisted on clearer details on what the UN responsibilities would be and how its workers would be protected. He is said by his closest aides to be deeply concerned that the UN not get caught between the emerging Iraqi leaders and the the US-led occupation, subject to manipulation by both. He is said to feel that the perception among some Iraqis that the UN was part of the occupation made it a target, and he is consequently wary of returning staff to Iraq until authority passes to Iraqis. In Washington, State Department deputy spokesman Ereli welcomes the trip of UN officials to Iraq and says they might play a role in US plans to revise its process for selecting the interim legislature that is to take power after June 30. He adds: "The UN has a lot of expertise in electoral processes, in setting up systems, election commissions, election bodies, monitoring elections, helping people set up regulations". Annan has invited members of the IGC and the CPA to a meeting in New York on Jan. 19 to discuss the UN role in Iraq and the timing of its return.