ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:97060404.NNE
DATE:06/04/97
TITLE:04-06-97 TEXT: BURNS STATEMENT ON RENEWAL OF IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD PLAN
TEXT:
(Calls on Iraqi regime to live up to its responsibility) (420)
Washington -- "The U.S. will continue to do its part to ensure the
rapid delivery of humanitarian goods to the people of Iraq," State
Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said June 4 following U.S. renewal
for six more months of UN Resolution 986, the Iraqi Oil-for Food plan.
"The Iraqi regime should finally live up to its responsibility to do
the same," Burns said, citing Iraqi efforts to abuse the privileges
offered by the resolution, which resulted in delay of some
humanitarian deliveries to Iraqis in need during the first six months
of the program.
Following is the text of Burns' statement:
(Begin text)
The United States is pleased to agree to a six-month renewal of the
program to provide supplementary humanitarian goods to the Iraqi
people under UNSCR 986. The U.S. sponsored this resolution and earlier
initiatives as far back as 1991 to ease the burden on the Iraqi people
imposed by the misrule of the Iraqi regime.
The U.S. sincerely regrets that Iraqi efforts to abuse the privileges
offered by Resolution 986 resulted in delay of some humanitarian
deliveries to Iraqis in need. Iraq has failed to abide by procedures
agreed with the UN Secretariat and attempted to evade monitoring of
the distribution of goods and reinterpret its obligations under the
resolution. The UN Secretary General's report of the first six months
of 986 implementation cites some of these abuses. We will maintain our
insistence on full respect for the agreed system, even if it delays
some deliveries.
The U.S. will continue to do its part to ensure the rapid delivery of
humanitarian goods to the people of Iraq. The Iraqi regime should
finally live up to its responsibility to do the same. Even before 986,
there were no limits on Baghdad's ability to import humanitarian
supplies such as food and medicine for the relief of the Iraqi people.
We call upon the Iraqi regime to devote a decent, compassionate share
of its national resources to this crucial task and to avoid putting
the additional relief provided under 986 at risk by failing to
implement the resolution transparently and accountably.
As the 986 program is renewed, we would welcome improvements to the
UN's operations, particularly in the northern governorates, where the
UN is directly responsible for meeting humanitarian needs.
(End text)
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