DATE=9/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ALBRIGHT/IRAQ (L/S)
NUMBER=2-254109
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Leaders of Iraq's opposition in exile are
urging the United States and its allies to find ways
to get more humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people
while maintaining sanctions against the government of
President Saddam Hussein. Members of the Iraqi
National Congress met with Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright in New York Monday where diplomatic
efforts are underway to find agreement within the
United Nations Security Council on a way to get U-N
weapons inspectors back in the country. Correspondent
Nick Simeone has details.
TEXT: The 16 members of the Iraqi delegation who met
with Secretary Albright encouraged the United States
to find a way to get food and medicine to Iraq while
not allowing one more penny, as they put it, to go to
President Saddam. Members of the Iraqi National
Congress are in New York meeting with leaders from a
range of governments here to attend the U-N General
Assembly.
The opposition group says it would support lifting
restrictions on the amount of oil Iraq could sell in
exchange for more imported goods -- but believes more
monitors must be stationed in the country to ensure
that the money flows through the United Nations and is
put toward humanitarian needs and not diverted by the
Iraqi government.
The United States is having what a senior U-S official
calls an extraordinarily difficult time finding
agreement among U-N members on a new resolution, one
sponsored by Britain and the Netherlands, that would
put weapons inspectors back in Iraq in exchange for an
easing of some sanctions. The United States and
Britain maintain most sanctions should remain until
Baghdad accounts for all of its suspected weapons of
mass destruction. But that view is drawing new
criticism: The top U-N official Iraq is calling for an
immediate lifting of sanctions, saying it's time to
separate humanitarian concerns from other issues.
// REST OPT //
The Clinton administration is hoping members of the
Iraqi National Congress will persuade other countries
- in particular Russia and China -- to support keeping
most sanctions in place while it continues to work to
undermine President Saddam. The administration has
begun work to establish a war crimes tribunal for
Iraqi leaders and is expected to soon begin disbursing
some 97-million-dollars approved by Congress to equip
and train elements of the Iraqi opposition. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/TVM/gm
20-Sep-1999 18:22 PM EDT (20-Sep-1999 2222 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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