DATE=1/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224932
TITLE=IRAQ OIL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JESSICA JONES
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ HAS STARTED PUMPING OIL AGAIN INTO ITS NORTHERN
PIPELINE, MOVING BAGHDAD ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEGINNING THE THIRD
PHASE OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPONSORED OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM.
DETAILS FROM JESSICA JONES IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT: IRAQI OIL MINISTER AMIR MUHAMMAD RASHEED TOLD REPORTERS IN
THE CAPITAL BAGHDAD WEDNESDAY THAT HIS COUNTRY HAS RESUMED
PUMPING OIL INTO THE IRAQI-TURKISH PIPELINE. HE SAID IRAQ
EXPECTS TO BEGIN SELLING ITS OIL ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
EARLY NEXT WEEK.
INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICES FELL TO 30-MONTH LOWS IN RESPONSE TO THE
NEWS.
ON THURSDAY, MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ARE EXPECTED TO
APPROVE A PRICING FORMULA FOR IRAQI OIL SALES IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE UNITED NATIONS MONITORED OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM. MR. RASHEED
SAYS AFTER THE PRICING FORMULA IS APPROVED, IRAQ WILL START
SIGNING CONTRACTS TO SELL ITS OIL.
ON MONDAY, U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN APPROVED A NEW FOOD
DISTRIBUTION PLAN FIRST FORMULATED BY A TEAM OF UNITED NATIONS
AND IRAQI OFFICIALS.
LAST MONTH, BAGHDAD SAID IT WOULD NOT SELL OIL UNDER THE THIRD
PHASE OF THE U-N APPROVED OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM UNTIL U-N
OFFICIALS CONSENTED TO A BETTER PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTING FOOD,
MEDICINE AND OTHER GOODS IN THE COUNTRY.
IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT SUPPLIES WERE DELIVERED TOO
SLOWLY DURING THE FIRST TWO PHASES OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM.
UNDER THE NEW PLAN, BAGHDAD IS ALLOWED TO SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF
OIL IN ORDER TO BUY FOOD, MEDICINE, AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. IT
IS THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO U-N SANCTIONS FIRST IMPOSED ON IRAQ
SEVEN YEARS AGO, AFTER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORCES INVADED KUWAIT.
U-N INSPECTORS ARE IN IRAQ IN AN ATTEMPT TO VERIFY THAT THE
COUNTRY HAS DISMANTLED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE
U-N SAYS THAT UNTIL IRAQ COMPLIES WITH ITS DEMANDS, THE SANCTIONS
WILL NOT BE LIFTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JJ/PCF
07-Jan-98 11:09 AM EST (1609 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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