DATE=4/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229996
TITLE= IRAQ / BRITAIN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE= LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN LONDON, A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE LOOKING AT
THE UNITED NATIONS "OIL-FOR-FOOD" PROGRAM FOR IRAQ HAS ENDED
DELIBERATIONS. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ANDRE DE NESNERA
REPORTS FROM THE BRITISH CAPITAL, FEW CONCRETE RESULTS EMERGED
FROM THE SESSION.
TEXT: PARTICIPANTS AT THE CONFERENCE FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON
WAYS TO BETTER IMPLEMENT THE U-N'S IRAQI "OIL-FOR-FOOD" PROGRAM.
MANY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS -- AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER COUNTRIES -- EXPRESSED CONCERN
ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE IRAQIS HIT HARD BY THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
IMPOSED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AFTER BAGDHAD'S INVASION OF
KUWAIT IN 1990.
BRITISH OFFICIALS SAID THE CONFERENCE ALLOWED EVERYONE TO
EXCHANGE IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES. AT THE END OF THE MEETING,
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS CALLED ON IRAQ TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH
THE UNITED NATION'S "OIL-FOR-FOOD" PROGRAM. THEY ALSO URGED THE
U-N TO ELIMINATE WHAT THEY CALLED UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRATIC
DELAYS.
BRITAIN'S SENIOR MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CLARE
SHORT, TOLD REPORTERS THE PROBLEM IN IRAQ IS NOT LIMITED TO A
SHORTAGE OF FOOD AND MEDICINE.
// SHORT ACT //
THE PROBLEM IS WITH SYSTEMS -- ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS. THIS
MEANS THAT HOSPITALS CANNOT OPERATE. WATER AND
SANITATION IS BREAKING DOWN. LOTS OF PEOPLE USE POWDERED
MILK, THEY THEREFORE ARE USING WATER THAT IS UNHEALTHY
AND THAT CAUSES SICKNESS AMONG PEOPLE. SO WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER AT IDENTIFYING OBJECTIVES TO BRING HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE AND THEN MAKE THE WHOLE PROGRAM FLOW TO
IMPROVE WATER, TO IMPROVE SANITATION AND SO ON.
// END ACT //
MANY CRITICS DESCRIBED THE CONFERENCE AS NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT
THEY CALL A "TALKING SHOP." THEY SAY MANY KEY PLAYER NATIONS
--SUCH AS JORDAN AND TURKEY -- DECIDED TO BOYCOTT THE CONFERENCE.
RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE ARAB LEAGUE -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KUWAIT
-- DID NOT SHOW UP AS WELL.
GEORGE GALLOWAY IS A BRITISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM THE RULING
LABOUR PARTY. HE IS AN EXPERT ON IRAQ AND JUST RETURNED FROM THE
COUNTRY. MR. GALLOWAY SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE
SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE IS TO LIFT THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
// GALLOWAY ACT //
THE ARAB LEAGUE -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KUWAIT -- AND
INCLUDING SOME OF OUR BEST WESTERN FRIENDS AND PEOPLE
WHO FOUGHT ON THE ALLIED SIDE IN THE GULF WAR IN 1991
ARE NOW SAYING THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO CHANGE THIS
POLICY, THAT IRAQ HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH. AND THE WIDER
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF
LIFTING THE SANCTIONS. SO IT IS A POLICY WHICH IS
RUNNING OUT OF FRIENDS FAST. //OPT// IT IS A POLICY
WHICH, IN MY VIEW, IS IMMORAL. BUT EVEN IF YOU DO NOT
AGREE WITH ME ON THAT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS
NOT WORKING. THE REGIME IS STRONGER NOW THAN WHEN THE
POLICY STARTED. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE WEAKER ARE THE
INNOCENT IRAQI PEOPLE. //END OPT//
// END ACT //
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE
ISSUE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ LATER THIS MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF
21-Apr-98 9:45 AM EDT (1345 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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