DATE=4/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230292
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (S & L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL (PREPARES TO DISCUSS /
DISCUSSES) A RENEWAL OF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ,
BAGHDAD HAS ANNOUNCED A CUT IN FOOD RATIONS. MIDDLE EAST
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE
RENEWED ALLEGATIONS THAT THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN ARE
OBSTRUCTING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE U-N'S "OIL-FOR-FOOD" DEAL.
TEXT: IRAQI TRADE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY RATIONS OF COOKING OIL
AND BABY MILK WILL BE REDUCED AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH. AND
TABLE SALT WILL NO LONGER BE INCLUDED IN THE MONTHLY RATION
THAT IS CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL LIFELINE FOR MILLIONS OF IRAQIS.
THE RATION PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES RICE, FLOUR, SUGAR AND SOAP
WHICH APPARENTLY ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE CUTS.
IRAQI OFFICIALS BLAME THE REDUCTIONS ON WHAT THE NATIONAL NEWS
AGENCY CALLS THE INHUMANE AND IMMORAL PRACTICES OF THE UNITED
STATES AND BRITAIN. BAGHDAD HAS FREQUENTLY CHARGED THAT
WASHINGTON AND LONDON DELAY OR BLOCK APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS FOR
THE SUPPLY OF HUMANITARIAN GOODS TO IRAQ.
U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS DISMISS THE ACCUSATIONS.
///REMAINDER OPT FOR LONG C-R///
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RATION CUTS APPEARS TIMED TO COINCIDE
WITH THE LATEST U-N SECURITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF THE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS IN PLACE SINCE IRAQ'S 1990 INVASION OF KUWAIT.
IN THE RUN-UP TO THE U-N REVIEW, BAGHDAD HAS MOUNTED A MAJOR
PROPAGANDA OFFENSIVE, DEMANDING AN END TO THE SANCTIONS AND
WARNING OF DIRE BUT UNSPECIFIED CONSEQUENCES, IF THE SECURITY
COUNCIL FAILS TO RESPOND.
IRAQ SAYS AT LEAST A MILLION AND A HALF (1.5 MILLION) OF ITS
CITIZENS HAVE DIED OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, AS A DIRECT RESULT
OF THE SANCTIONS.
BAGHDAD SAYS INFANT MORTALITY AND THE DEATH RATE AMONG THE
ELDERLY CONTINUE TO SOAR BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FOOD AND
MEDICINE.
U-N AND RELIEF AGENCY OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST SOME OF THE DEATHS
CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO IRAQ'S INEFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY, AS WELL AS
TO ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD
AGAINST SHIITE MUSLIMS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ AND THE KURDISH MINORITY
IN THE NORTH.
IN ADDITION, WESTERN OFFICIALS POINT OUT THAT IRAQ CONTINUES TO
SPEND LAVISHLY ON NEW OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS FOR
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
A REPORT IN THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES" NEWSPAPER THIS WEEK, QUOTING
DIPLOMATIC SOURCES, SAYS IRAQ HAS CONSTRUCTED 48 PRESIDENTIAL
SITES, AT A COST OF AROUND TWO-BILLION DOLLARS, SINCE THE
SANCTIONS WENT INTO FORCE.
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS STIPULATE THAT THE SANCTIONS CAN
ONLY BE LIFTED ONCE THE U-N HAS VERIFIED THE ELIMINATION OF ALL
OF IRAQ'S NUCLEAR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, AS WELL AS THE
DESTRUCTION OF ITS LONG RANGE MISSILES.
BAGHDAD INSISTS IT HAS LONG SINCE COMPLIED WITH THAT DEMAND. BUT
OFFICIALS OF THE U-N ARMS COMMISSION REMAIN UNCONVINCED. THE
LATEST REPORT FROM COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER SAYS
VIRTUALLY NO PROGRESS BEEN MADE OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS TOWARD
CERTIFYING IRAQI COMPLIANCE (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
27-Apr-98 10:28 AM EDT (1428 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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