DATE=11/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ-U-N REACTION (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256459
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A United Nations official says that U-N
humanitarian operations in Iraq will continue despite
the Iraqi government's decision to suspend oil sales.
V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the
United Nations.
TEXT: Chief U-N spokesman Fred Eckhard says the
suspension of Iraqi oil sales will have no immediate
impact on U-N humanitarian work there.
/// ECKHARD ACT ///
We will be continuing our work. There are an
awful lot of supplies in the pipeline so our
work does not need to stop just because the oil
stopped flowing. Our hope is that this can
eventually be worked out and that they (Iraq)
will continue the oil-for-food program.
/// END ACT ///
Iraq ended its oil shipments to protest Friday's
decision by the U-N Security Council to extend the so-
called "oil-for-food" program for just two weeks. For
the past three years, the Council has extended - for
six months each time - Iraq's authority to sell oil to
raise money for humanitarian purposes. But because of
differences between the United States and Russia, the
program was extended only for two weeks.
Russia and the United States were unable to agree on
raising the amount of oil Iraq can sell and on
doubling the amount of money Iraq can spend on spare
parts for its oil industry. Sergey Lavrov, Russia's
ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters Iraq
definitely needs those spare parts.
/// LAVROV ACT ///
Even before the two-week extension was agreed to
in the Council as a bridging measure, there were
reports from Baghdad that Iraq was seriously
thinking about reducing its oil production and
export because its equipment was wearing out and
they did not want to risk the infrastructure by
pumping more and more.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Lavrov would not comment on private talks among
the five permanent members of the U-N Security Council
on a comprehensive resolution on Iraq. Under
discussion is a resolution that would lift economic
sanctions against Iraq in exchange for the return of
weapons inspectors to that country. The United States
is hopeful an agreement on that can be reached within
two weeks but the Russian ambassador says there is no
time limit.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/gm
22-Nov-1999 18:44 PM EDT (22-Nov-1999 2344 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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