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DATE=5/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232582
TITLE=SENATE-IRAQ SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS REJECTED SUGGESTIONS THE 
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS ON IRAQ ARE COLLAPSING, BUT HAS ALSO 
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT BAGHDAD'S ILLEGAL OIL SALES.  
CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
TEXT:  THOUGH TENSIONS IN THE PERSIAN GULF HAVE COOLED, MANY IN 
CONGRESS ARE STILL DEEPLY SKEPTICAL ABOUT U-S AND U-N POLICY, 
INCLUDING THE STRENGTH OF THE LONGSTANDING SANCTIONS ON BAGHDAD.
AT A SENATE HEARING (THURSDAY), UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE THOMAS 
PICKERING SAID THE SANCTIONS ARE STILL PUNISHING THE IRAQI 
GOVERNMENT.  HE CALLED THEM THE TOUGHEST, MOST COMPREHENSIVE 
EVER, AND DEFENDED THE PROGRAM ALLOWING IRAQ TO SELL OIL IN 
RETURN FOR FOOD.  HE SAYS WITHOUT IT THE WORLD COMMUNITY MIGHT BE
FORCED TO LIFT SANCTIONS, TO AVOID A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER.
                       // PICKERING ACT //
         WE WOULD BE WATCHING THE IRAQI PEOPLE STARVE TO DEATH --
         INDEED WITH NO FOOD MANY OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN LONG 
         GONE BY NOW -- WHILE SADDAM DELIBERATELY REFUSES TO 
         SPEND IRAQI RESOURCES ON HIS OWN PEOPLE'S WELFARE.
                          // END ACT //
BUT MR. PICKERING ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM OF IRAQ'S ILLEGAL OIL 
SALES, TO JORDAN AND TURKEY BY LAND AND TO OTHER STATES THROUGH 
THE GULF.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR FRANK MURKOWSKI SAYS THE ILLEGAL TRAFFIC, AND 
THE RECENT EXPANSION OF LEGAL SALES, ARE SUSTAINING A GOVERNMENT 
THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT FALL.
                       // MURKOWSKI ACT //
         WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN INDONESIA WHERE THE PEOPLE 
         FINALLY ROSE UP TO THE POINT WHERE SUHARTO STEPPED DOWN.
         THAT SITUATION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN IRAQ, AND THE 
         ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF SADDAM IS GOING TO CONTINUE AS 
         LONG AS HE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL CONTROL ON A CASH FLOW.
                           // END ACT //
MR. MURKOWSKI CALLED FOR AMERICAN OR ALLIED WARSHIPS TO CUT OFF 
THE SMUGGLING IN THE GULF.  BUT, THOSE VESSELS OPERATE ONLY IN 
INTERNATIONAL WATERS, WHILE MUCH OF THE TRAFFIC PASSES THROUGH 
IRANIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS NEAR THE COAST.  MR. PICKERING SAYS 
IRAN CRACKED DOWN ON THE SHIPMENTS FOR A TIME, BUT IS NOW 
ALLOWING THEM TO PASS. (SIGNED)
 NEB/DS/TMD/RAE
21-May-98 1:12 PM EDT (1712 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.