DATE=10/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239788
TITLE= IRAQ / SANCTIONS / HALLIDAY
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE OUTGOING U-N HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ SAYS
U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THAT COUNTRY ARE TRAGICALLY
INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE U-N CHARTER. DENIS HALLIDAY SAYS THE
SANCTIONS ARE LEADING TO HUMAN SUFFERING, PARTICULARLY AMONG
CHILDREN. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS, MR. HALLIDAY
ADDRESSED A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON (TUESDAY).
TEXT: DENIS HALLIDAY SAYS THE SANCTIONS CREATE A SITUATION FOR
IRAQI CIVILIANS THAT UNDERMINES THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED
NATIONS AS A BENIGN FORCE FOR PEACE AND HUMAN WELL-BEING
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
MR. HALLIDAY, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION AS U-N
HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ, SAYS THE EMBARGO HAS RAISED
RATES OF MALNUTRITION, DISEASE, AND INFANT MORTALITY. MOREOVER,
HE SAYS THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE NOT WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A
MORE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
// HALLIDAY ACT //
THOSE WHO ARE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIVING
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT HAVE AN INCLINATION OR
TIME TO FOCUS ON GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS. THEY ARE FOCUSED
ON EMPLOYMENT -- TWO JOBS, PERHAPS THREE -- GETTING FOOD
ON THE TABLE, OF MAKING ENDS MEET, HAVING THEIR FAMILIES
STAY HEALTHY, EDUCATED, AND IT IS SHEER SURVIVAL.
SANCTIONS ARE IN NO WAY, IN MY VIEW, CONTRIBUTING TO ANY
CHANGE, ANY POSITIVE CHANGE TO A PARTICIPATORY
GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM.
// END HALLIDAY ACT //
MR. HALLIDAY SAYS THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF IRAQIS IS GROWING UP
IN ISOLATION, ALIENATED FROM THE WEST. HE SAYS RATHER THAN
TURNING TOWARD DEMOCRACY, YOUNG IRAQIS ARE BECOMING MORE EXTREME
IN THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS. HE SAYS THEY ARE BECOMING IMPATIENT
WITH THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP FOR COMPROMISING WITH THE WEST, WHILE
ENDURING EIGHT-YEARS OF SANCTIONS.
THE 34-YEAR U-N VETERAN SAYS IRAQ'S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALMOST
TOTALLY DESTROYED DURING THE 1991 PERSIAN GULF WAR. HE SAYS
DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ CAN EMERGE ONLY AFTER SOME DEGREE OF ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL RECOVERY.
NUTRITION EXPERT PETER PELLETT TOLD THE HOUSE BRIEFING THE
ECONOMIC EMBARGO -- DESPITE A PROGRAM ALLOWING LIMITED IRAQI OIL
SALES TO PURCHASE FOOD -- HAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED FOOD
AVAILABILITY, NUTRITION, AND HEATH, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.
MR. PELLETT HAS DIRECTED TWO STUDIES ON IRAQ FOR THE U-N FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION. HE DISMISSED ARGUMENTS THAT THESE
"SIDE EFFECTS" ARE UNINTENTIONAL OR CAUSED SOLELY BY IRAQI LEADER
SADDAM HUSSEIN.
// PELLETT ACT //
THE FACTS ARE THAT AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO IS INTENDED TO
HURT ... AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE
DEPRIVATION AND POVERTY -- THAT IS WHAT IT IS THERE FOR!
AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT SURPRISING IN ANY WAY THAT IT
PRODUCES WIDESPREAD MALNUTRITION AND INCREASED
MORTALITY.
/// END ACT ///
CONGRESSMAN JOHN CONYERS URGED THE UNITED NATIONS TO END THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND TIGHTEN MILITARY ONES, INCLUDING ARMS
INSPECTIONS. THE DEMOCRAT LAWMAKER AND MORE THAN 40 OTHER HOUSE
MEMBERS SENT A LETTER (TUESDAY) TO PRESIDENT CLINTON URGING HIM
TO RE-EVALUATE U-S POLICY AND DE-LINK THE MILITARY AND ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/RAE
06-Oct-98 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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