DATE=12/5/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-223714 TITLE=IRAQ / U-N / OIL (L ONLY) BYLINE=JESSICA JONES DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAQ SAYS IT WILL NOT EXPORT ANY MORE OIL UNTIL THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVES ITS LATEST PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO IRAQI CITIZENS. JESSICA JONES REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU. TEXT: IRAQ STOPPED PUMPING OIL INTO ITS IRAQ-TO-TURKEY PIPELINE EARLY FRIDAY. THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY -- IN A STATEMENT DISTRIBUTED BY THE COUNTRY'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY -- SAID THE DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES HAS BLOCKED SCORES OF IRAQI CONTRACTS TO BUY GOODS DURING THE FIRST TWO PHASES OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PLAN. THE STATEMENT SAID IRAQ WOULD NOT EXPORT OIL FOR THE THIRD SIX-MONTH PHASE UNTIL THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVES THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION SCHEME FOR THAT SAME PERIOD. IT ALSO SAID THE UNITED STATES MUST STOP BLOCKING CONTRACTS FOR IRAQI PURCHASES OF GOODS UNDER THE FIRST TWO SIX-MONTH PHASES. IRAQ'S DECISION CAME ONE DAY AFTER THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE THIRD PHASE. THE UNITED STATES HAS BLOCKED CONTRACTS FOR GOODS SUCH AS TIRES AND HELICOPTER PARTS, SAYING SUCH ITEMS COULD BE USED BY IRAQ'S ARMED FORCES. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE SUPPLIES ARE NECESSARY FOR AUTHORIZED PURPOSES. THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM BEGAN LAST YEAR. IT ALLOWS IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL TO BUY FOOD, MEDICINE, AND OTHER GOODS FOR ITS PEOPLE. IRAQ EXPORTS OIL THROUGH ITS NORTHERN PIPELINE TO TURKEY AND THROUGH ANOTHER LINE TO THE SOUTHERN IRAQI PORT OF BASRA. BAGHDAD HAS NOT SAID IF IT HAS STOPPED PUMPING OIL INTO ITS SOUTHERN PIPELINE. (SIGNED) NEB/JJ/JWH 05-Dec-97 10:30 AM EST (1530 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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