DATE=9/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UN/IRAQ (L)
NUMBER=2-254278
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Foreign Ministers from the five permanent
members of the United Nations Security Council have
been meeting in New York to decide how to get weapons
inspectors back into Iraq and under what conditions.
At the United Nations, Correspondent Nick Simeone
reports the five powers are still unable to agree on
the substance of a resolution.
TEXT: The foreign ministers issued a statement saying
they want to find a way forward on Iraq and that their
governments will keep working to resolve differences
over the sanctions issue. But a senior U-S official
tells reporters substantial disagreement remains over
the substance of a resolution, with Russia and China
feeling that U-N sanctions in force for a decade no
longer serve much of a purpose.
The United States and Britain want sanctions
maintained until the United Nations certifies Baghdad
has been stripped of all of its suspected weapons of
mass destruction. To do that, U-N weapons inspectors
need to get back on the job. They were pulled out of
Iraq in December after repeatedly being blocked by the
Baghdad government.
Members of the opposition Iraqi National Congress have
been in New York all week to lobby Security Council
members to lift the cap on oil sales as long as all of
the proceeds go toward helping the Iraqi people, not
the Iraqi government. Spokesman Sharif Al-Hussein:
/// AL-HUSSEIN ACT ///
We are hoping to meet with the Chinese, the
Russians and the French and we would put forward
to them our case. And we are convinced that
also they are aware of the suffering of the
Iraqi people. It is just what is the best way
to achieve this (relief).
/// END ACT ///
The United States and Britain maintain President
Saddam Hussein is denying the Iraqi people food and
medicine purchased through oil sales and that he,
rather than sanctions, is responsible for their
suffering. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/TVM/gm
23-Sep-1999 19:29 PM EDT (23-Sep-1999 2329 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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