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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

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QUESTION: Does the State Department have a reaction to the UNHCR study on how nine years of sanctions have affected the health of --

MR. RUBIN: Yes, I do have a reaction to that UN study. The United States is very concerned about the death of children in Iraq. That's one reason why we support the oil-for-food program and have consistently emphasized food, medicine and the rapid delivery under that program. The report on the mortality rates of children in Iraq indicates that rates are declining in the autonomous northern regions, which is under the same sanctions regime as the rest of Iraq but where oil-for-food delivery is managed by the United Nations. In contrast, the report shows Iraqi failure to deliver humanitarian aid in South and Central Iraq has led to a doubling of the child mortality rate.

The clearest conclusion to be drawn, therefore, is that the oil-for-food program is working in the regions where it is allowed to work freely. We are committed to working with the UN and others to ensure that conditions for all Iraqis improve. We support UNICEF's work in Iraq. The bottom line is that if Saddam Hussein would not continue to horde medicines and capabilities to assist the children of Iraq, they wouldn't have this problem. So clearly, the blame for the suffering of the Iraqi people falls squarely on the shoulders of its tyrannical leader.

QUESTION: Well, that's not what Ms. Bellamy had to say. She said the blame falls squarely on both Saddam Hussein and on the sanctions.

MR. RUBIN: Right, and you may continue your dialogue with Ms. Bellamy as much as you want.

It is our view that the fact that in Northern Iraq, the infant morality rate is improving with the same sanctions regime under the rest of Iraq shows that in places where Saddam Hussein isn't manipulating the medicines and the supplies, that this works.

We can't solve a problem that is the result of tyrannical behavior by the regime in Baghdad. They are responsible for their people. We can work very hard to put the maximum pressure on them; we can provide oil-for-food programs; we can provide medicines, et cetera. But if Saddam Hussein is going to restrict that medicine to his own people, then he is responsible. That is our view.

QUESTION: So you disagree with her?

MR. RUBIN: I've just described our view.

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