DATE= 10/23/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221657
TITLE=IRAQ SANCTIONS VOTE (L)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A LESS THAN UNIFIED UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY THREATENED TO IMPOSE A TRAVEL BAN ON SENIOR IRAQI
OFFICIALS WHO CONTINUE TO BLOCK THE WORK OF U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS. THE VOTE WAS 10 TO NOTHING -- WITH THREE OF THE FIVE
PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ABSTAINING. V-O-A'S
CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNED IRAQ FOR BARRING ACCESS TO
WEAPONS SITES, EVEN ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE INSPECTORS ON
SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND REMOVING OR DESTROYING DOCUMENTS. BUT
EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO IMPOSE IMMEDIATE
SANCTIONS FAILED TO WOO KEY SUPPORT. EVEN AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN
THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE NEW MEASURES AUTOMATIC IN SIX MONTHS WAS
REJECTED.
CHINA, RUSSIA AND FRANCE -- JOINED BY KENYA AND EGYPT -- ALL TO
VARYING DEGREES SAID THEY OPPOSE MORE SANCTIONS AND BELIEVE IRAQ
HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH CREDIT FOR PROGRESS IN DISMANTLING ITS
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE THREE MAJOR POWERS HOLD VETO
POWER ON THE COUNCIL AND COULD HAVE BLOCKED ANY DECISION.
THE COMPROMISE RESOLUTION FINALLY ADOPTED -- THOUGH WITHOUT THEIR
SUPPORT --SIMPLY EXPRESSES THE COUNCIL'S FIRM INTENTION TO ORDER
A TRAVEL BAN IN APRIL IF IRAQ DOES NOT FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS.
IT CALLS FOR THE DRAFTING OF A LIST OF IRAQI OFFICIALS WHO WOULD
BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW RESTRICTIONS.
THE U-N RESOLUTION ALSO SUSPENDS FURTHER SANCTIONS REVIEWS FOR
SIX MONTHS -- WHICH MEANS NO POSSIBILITY FOR EASING THE ECONOMIC
EMBARGO IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990.
U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON EXPRESSED DISMAY OVER BAGHDAD'S
PERSISTENCE IN FLOUTING U-N AUTHORITY:
//RICHARDSON ACT//
IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT AFTER SIX AND A HALF YEARS THIS
BODY STILL MUST CONSIDER NEW APPROACHES TO CONVINCE IRAQ
TO COMPLY WITH ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. ONLY ONE
PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS -- A VERY
SAD ONE -- THE BAGHDAD REGIME.
//END ACT//
IRAQ HAD THREATENED TO CUT OFF ALL COOPERATION WITH U-N
INSPECTORS IF NEW SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED. IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER
MOHAMMED KAZIM AL-SAHHAF, WHO ATTENDED THE COUNCIL MEETING,
CALLED THE RESOLUTION THE RESULT OF A "SICK CAMPAIGN" BY THE
UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN:
//SAHHAF ACT//
NOW IT IS UP TO OUR LEADERSHIP AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO
DECIDE WHAT ARE OUR ALTERNATIVES IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR
COUNTRY AGAINST THIS FLAGRANT PERPARATION TO IMPOSE MORE
INJUSTICES ON OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE.
//END ACT//
BRITISH AMBASSADOR JOHN WESTON BALKED AT THE THREAT, SAYING THE
COUNCIL WILL NOT BE THROWN OFF COURSE BY IRAQI ATTEMPTS AT
BLACKMAIL.
//REST OPT//
//WESTON ACT//
IF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ CHOOSES TO CHALLENGE THE WILL
AND AUTHORITY OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, IT CAN BE
SURE OF A FIRM AND PRINCIPLED RESPONSE. IF IRAQ HAS NOT
YET UNDERSTOOD THIS, IT HAS UNDERSTOOD NOTHING.
//END ACT//
ANY TRAVEL BANS WOULD REQUIRE A NEW VOTE IN APRIL BEFORE THEY GO
INTO EFFECT. BARRING ANY DRAMATIC FINDINGS IN IRAQ FROM NOW
UNTIL THEN -- THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN COULD BE EXPECTED TO
FACE CONTINUING OPPOSITION FROM RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
23-Oct-97 7:09 PM EDT (2309 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
