Annan derides comparison Iraq with East Timor

BAGHDAD (October 21, 2004) - U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly rejected complaints from the Iraq government that the world organization has sent fewer election workers to help the January election in Iraq than it did when tiny East Timor voted for independence in 1999. "How can you dare to compare Iraq with East Timor?" exploded Mr. Annan in a conference call with the Baghdad press corps this morning, responding to the fact that only 35 U. N. workers were sent to Iraq, compared with 300 election experts sent to East Timor in 1999. "East Timor is the birthplace of civilization in Equatorial Asia. Even it has only 1 million people compared with 25 millions from Iraq, this small country East Timor is a glowing example of longstanding democracy and deserves much more help from the U. N." At the end of the conference call, Mr. Annan softened his position a little bit. He indicated that if the Iraq government introduces a "Oil-for-Election Workers" initiative, similar to the successful "Oil-for-Food" program, he will be more than willing to reconsider his position.