DATE=4/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229948
TITLE= IRAQ/BRITAIN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE= LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE FOCUSING ON THE UNITED NATIONS
OIL-FOR-FOOD DEAL IN IRAQ HAS OPENED IN LONDON (EDS: MONDAY).
BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS, CRITICS
BELIEVE THE EVENT IS NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT THEY CALL A "TALKING
SHOP." (EDS: TALK--NO ACTION)
TEXT: THE TWO-DAY EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER SENIOR EXPERTS FROM THE
EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS FROM
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE ARAB COUNTRY AND
THE UNITED NATIONS -- WHICH RUNS THE "OIL-FOR-FOOD" PROGRAM.
BRITISH OFFICIALS SAY THEIR GOVERNMENT WILL EXPRESS ITS CONCERN
ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE IRAQIS HIT HARD BY ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
IMPOSED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING BAGHDAD'S 1990
INVASION OF KUWAIT. BRITISH OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THE FORUM WILL
PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS A CHANCE TO RECOMMEND WAYS TO HELP THE U-N
IMPLEMENT ITS IRAQI OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM.
BUT CRITICS SAY THE TWO-DAY MEETING IS NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT
THEY CALL A "TALKING SHOP." SOME DISMISS IT AS A CHANCE FOR
WESTERN COUNTRIES TO ALLEVIATE THEIR CONSCIENCES AS IRAQIS
CONTINUE TO SUFFER UNDER THE CRIPPLING SANCTIONS.
GEORGE GALLOWAY IS A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT FROM THE
RULING LABOUR PARTY. HE'S AN EXPERT ON IRAQ, WHO TRAVELS
FREQUENTLY TO THE COUNTRY. HIS DETRACTORS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF
BEING AN APOLOGIST FOR THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP -- A CHARGE HE
DENIES.
MR. GALLOWAY SAYS THE CONFERENCE HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF SUCCESS
BECAUSE SOME KEY PLAYERS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND,
PARTICULARLY IRAQ.
// GALLOWAY ACT //
THE ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADORS HAVE ALL BOYCOTTED THE
CONFERENCE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE KUWAITI
AMBASSADOR. SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT PLAYERS IN THE
REGION -- TURKEY AND JORDAN, FOR EXAMPLE -- HAVE
BOYCOTTED THE CONFERENCE. AND RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE NOT
THERE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF ELOQUENTLY EMPTY SEATS AT
THE CONFERENCE. AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL LIMIT ITS
EFFECTIVENESS.
// END ACT //
MR. GALLOWAY ECHOES THE VIEW OF MANY NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS WHO SAY THE IRAQI PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY
UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS. //OPT// HE HAS JUST RETURNED
FROM A VISIT TO IRAQ AND SAYS STARVATION IS EVERYWHERE.
// SECOND GALLOWAY ACT //
//SUB OPT// I WAS AT THE EASTER SERVICE AMONGST THE VERY
BIG AND VIBRANT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN IRAQ ON EASTER
SUNDAY, AND AS I CAME OUT WITH THE CARDINAL FROM THE
CHURCH, A MAN FELL DOWN. I SWEAR TO YOU. HE FELL DOWN,
FAINTED FROM HUNGER. HE WAS REVIVED BY WATER AND BREAD
-- AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD EATEN IN THREE DAYS.
//END SUB OPT// ANYONE WHO FALLS ILL IS ASSUMED TO BE
GOING TO DIE BECAUSE THE MEDICAL SITUATION IN THE
COUNTRY IS SIMPLY CATASTROPHIC. OF COURSE THE HEALTHY
CAN STAY JUST ONE STEP AHEAD. BUT THE REGIME IS (IRAQI
GOVERNMENT LEADERS ARE) THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
AFFECTED. //SUB OPT// THE REGIME HAS ALL THE CIGARS IT
NEEDS, ALL THE FOOD IT NEEDS, ALL THE VEHICLES IT NEEDS,
ALL THE UNIFORMS. THEY ARE THE ONE SET OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT AFFECTED. //END SUB OPT//
// END ACT //
BRITISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER GEORGE GALLOWAY SAYS THE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ EIGHT YEARS AGO BY THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY ARE NOT WORKING. HE SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO BE
LIFTED AND SPARE THE IRAQI PEOPLE MORE SUFFERING. //END OPT//
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE MATTER LATER
THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF/KL
20-Apr-98 10:26 AM EDT (1426 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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