- News>
- World
Bremer wants to expand US-led occupation authority
Washington, Nov 07: US Adminstrator for Iraq Paul Bremer wants to expand the US-led occupation authority to manage USD 20 billion of reconstruction funds, he told the Washington Post in an interview published today.
Washington, Nov 07: US Adminstrator for Iraq
Paul Bremer wants to expand the US-led occupation authority
to manage USD 20 billion of reconstruction funds, he told
the Washington Post in an interview published today.
Bremer said he intends to appoint two new deputies
and set up a large project management office to disburse the
funds to private american contractors, who in turn would hire
Iraqi firms as subcontractors.
He said the reorganization of the occupation authority was needed to respond to a transition in the reconstruction effort from a phase of energy repairs to a longer-term development of new infrastructure.
"We are at a new point" in the occupation, he said. "These changes reflect where we are."
US President George W Bush yesterday signed a USD 87.5 billion emergency spending package for Iraq and Afghanistan that includes USD 20 billion in reconstruction aid for Iraq.
The current US-led occupation authority in Iraq employs some 2,000 non-Iraqis, the daily said.
Bremer said the reorganization would allow him to focus more on helping Iraqis draw up a new constitution and make the transition from a socialist system.
He also said he would devote more time to Iraq's USD 200-billion foreign debt, adding that he might ask Bush to appoint a senior official to engage in negotiations with foreign governments.
Bureau Report
He said the reorganization of the occupation authority was needed to respond to a transition in the reconstruction effort from a phase of energy repairs to a longer-term development of new infrastructure.
"We are at a new point" in the occupation, he said. "These changes reflect where we are."
US President George W Bush yesterday signed a USD 87.5 billion emergency spending package for Iraq and Afghanistan that includes USD 20 billion in reconstruction aid for Iraq.
The current US-led occupation authority in Iraq employs some 2,000 non-Iraqis, the daily said.
Bremer said the reorganization would allow him to focus more on helping Iraqis draw up a new constitution and make the transition from a socialist system.
He also said he would devote more time to Iraq's USD 200-billion foreign debt, adding that he might ask Bush to appoint a senior official to engage in negotiations with foreign governments.
Bureau Report