04 December 1997
TEXT: RICHARDSON'S UNSC REMARKS ON IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM
(Ambassador says U.S. will continue to support program) (880) United Nations -- The United States fully supports the oil-for-food program and will consider an increase in the amount of oil Iraq can sell if it will help the Iraqi people, U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said December 4. In a speech to the Security Council Richardson said that "the council has acted with dispatch to address the humanitarian concerns of the Iraqi people. Iraq should now do the same." The council voted unanimously to continue the so-called "oil-for-food" program under which Iraq -- under strict U.N. supervision -- is allowed to sell $2,000 million worth of crude oil every 180 days in order to buy humanitarian supplies for needy Iraqi civilians. The council also indicated a willingness to consider increasing the amount of oil sold if a study by Secretary General Kofi Annan finds that the increase would help meet the basic needs of Iraqis. Richardson said that the Iraqi leadership should "stop playing politics" with the oil-for-food program by blocking some of the contracts that permit the food to go the people and threatening to stop cooperating with the U.N. unless the program is changed to suit Baghdad's needs. "I think by now it should be clear to all where genuine concern for the welfare of the Iraqi people resides. This concern has been unshaken by the determined efforts of the Iraqi Government to undercut the Security Council and its resolutions at every turn," the ambassador said. "My government will continue to support the 986 humanitarian program because it was the right thing to do when the resolution was adopted in 1995 and it remains the right thing to do now," Richardson said. Following is the text of the ambassador's remarks: (Begin text) Statement by Ambassador Bill Richardson, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in Explanation of Vote on Iraq, Oil-for-Food Program, in the Security Council, December 3, 1997 Mr. President, today the Council will once again act with dispatch to address the pressing humanitarian needs of those most in need in Iraq. In his report to the Council, the Secretary-General identifies on-going problems and concerns attending the implementation of the 986 program. He notes: -- the serious nutritional and health situation affecting the most vulnerable groups in Iraq; -- the sometimes slow pace of delivery of humanitarian goods to Iraq; and -- difficulties with their distribution once those goods arrive in the country. We take all these problems very seriously, and believe these must be addressed on an urgent basis. We, therefore, welcome the commitment of the Secretary-General to prepare a thorough and systematic study of the entire 986 process. This study will be an immeasurable help to the Council. We are willing, in light of the recommendations of the Secretary-General, not only to find ways of improving the implementation of the humanitarian program, but also to consider additional resources which may be needed to meet the priority humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq. As I have said, the Council has acted with dispatch to address the humanitarian concerns of the Iraqi people. Iraq should now do the same. Iraq should stop playing politics with 986 contracts. Iraq should stop submitting 986 contracts that fail to meet the prima facie criteria and procedures that Iraq agreed to, and in some cases insisted upon, with the UN Secretariat. Iraq should end its threats -- made as recently as late last week -- to cease cooperation with the United Nations on this program unless its excessive demands for changes are met. The Government of Iraq should restore the food ration for each Iraqi citizen that was cut by the Government even as more food was flowing into the country. And Iraq should never again unilaterally and inexplicably interrupt the sales of oil that the Council has authorized to help feed the Iraqi people. I point out that operative paragraph two of this resolution specifically decides -- that the provisions of the distribution plan in respect to goods purchased in accordance with resolution 1111 shall continue to apply to food and medicines purchased in accordance with this resolution pending the Secretary-General's approval of a new distribution plan." We are including this language so that, despite the Iraqi leadership's not having submitted a distribution plan on time, the flow of food and medicine to the Iraqi people will not be interrupted. In short, we call upon the Iraqi leadership to demonstrate as much compassion for the Iraqi people as the Council has by adopting resolutions 986, 1111, 1129 and will demonstrate once again by adopting this resolution today. I think by now it should be clear to all where genuine concern for the welfare of the Iraqi people resides. This concern has been unshaken by the determined efforts of the Iraqi Government to undercut the Security Council and its resolutions at every turn. My Government will continue to support the 986 humanitarian program because it was the right thing to do when the resolution was adopted in 1995, and it remains the right thing to do now. Thank you, Mr. President. (End text)
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