DATE=12/9/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-207252
TITLE=IRAQI OIL DEAL - UPDATE (S & L)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNDER TIGHT UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION, LIMITED
QUANTITIES OF IRAQI OIL WILL ENTER THE WORLD MARKET SHORTLY --
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS. SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS
BOUTROS-GHALI GAVE THE GO-AHEAD FOR A SPECIAL OIL-FOR-FOOD
OPERATION MONDAY IN A LETTER TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL. VOA
CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS THE DEAL GOES INTO EFFECT
ONE MINUTE AFTER MIDNIGHT MONDAY -- NEW YORK TIME:
TEXT: IRAQ WILL BE ALLOWED TO SELL TWO BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF
OIL OVER SIX MONTHS TO RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE. IF THE
OPERATION GOES WELL, THE DEAL CAN BE RENEWED.
THE U-N SAYS 150 MONITORS ARE IN PLACE INSIDE IRAQ TO MAKE SURE
HUMANITARIAN GOODS REACH ALL SEGMENTS OF THE IRAQI POPULATION.
ANOTHER 32 INSPECTORS WILL OVERSEE THE IMPORTS. THREE OF THE
FOUR OVERSEERS -- FROM FRANCE, THE UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA --
WHO WILL APPROVE THE OIL CONTRACTS ARE ALREADY IN NEW YORK. THE
FOURTH, A NORWEGIAN, IS EXPECTED TUESDAY.
SECRETARY-GENERAL BOUTROS-GHALI GAVE FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE OIL
DEAL WHEN HE WAS ASSURED THAT METERING STATIONS INSIDE IRAQ ARE
FUNCTIONING. MOST OF THE OIL WILL FLOW THROUGH A TWIN-PIPELINE
FROM NORTHERN IRAQ TO TURKEY.
IRAQ WILL BE ABLE TO SELL NEARLY 600-THOUSAND BARRELS A DAY,
COMPARED TO THE THREE MILLION BARRELS IT EXPORTED BEFORE THE 1991
GULF WAR.
//REST OPT//
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS INFORMED THE OTHER
MEMBERS THAT HE HAS INDEED RECEIVED THE ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL FROM MR.
BOUTROS-GHALI. NO VOTE IS REQUIRED.
IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER STRICT U-N SANCTIONS -- INCLUDING AN EXPORT
BAN -- SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN AUGUST, 1990. U-N AGENCIES
HAVE REPORTED INCREASING POVERTY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS AMONG IRAQI
CIVILIANS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.
IN ANNOUNCING THE GO-AHEAD FOR THE OIL DEAL, U-N SPOKESWOMAN
SYLVANA FOA SAID THE SECRETARY-GENERAL BELIEVES THE OPERATION IS
A HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY:
//FOA ACT//
HE SAID WHERE WE STAND NOW IS A VICTORY FOR THE POOREST
OF THE POOR IN IRAQ -- FOR THE WOMEN, FOR THE CHILDREN,
FOR THE SICK AND DISABLED. AND THAT HE HOPES THAT THE
HUMANITARIAN DIMENSION WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL IN THE WORK
OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
//END ACT//
THE PUSH TO GET THE OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL MOVING WAS FREQUENTLY
COLORED BY THE POLITICAL TENSIONS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND WASHINGTON.
AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS, U-S AMBASSADOR MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
HELD FIRM DURING THE LAST STRETCH THAT IRAQ FORMALLY ACCEPT ALL
U-N CONDITIONS BEFORE THE OPERATION BEGINS. BAGHDAD FINALLY DID
LAST MONTH.
DIPLOMATS ACKNOWLEDGE IRAQ MAY HAVE BEEN HOLDING OUT FOR THE
COMPLETE LIFTING OF THE U-N EMBARGO. BUT THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS
NOT INCLINED TO CHANGE THE SANCTIONS PROGRAM WHILE QUESTIONS
PERSIST ABOUT IRAQI WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. U-N INSPECTORS
ARE NOT CONVINCED BAGHDAD HAS COOPERATED COMPLETELY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/KL
09-Dec-96 1:37 PM EST (1837 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
