03 December 1999
Text: UNSC Votes to Extend Iraq Oil-for-Food Program for Seven Days
(Amb. Burleigh says program must continue without disruption) (800) The U.N. Security Council late December 3 voted to extend phase VI of the Iraq Oil-for-Food program for seven days, through December 11. The resolution was passed by a vote of 11 in favor and 3 abstentions -- China, Russia and Malaysia. France, which opposed the proposal, saying seven days was insufficient for technical reasons, did not participate in the vote. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. A. Peter Burleigh applauded the action by the Council in a statement December 3. "There has been no disruption of humanitarian assistance under the Oil-for-Food program, and it is a matter of the utmost importance that the program continue without disruption. ... This Resolution ensures that essential humanitarian assistance can continue while the Security Council prepares for adoption of a comprehensive resolution on Iraq next week," he said. Adoption of that resolution next week, "will clear the way for action on a full six-month extension of the program a week from now," Burleigh said. "That resolution will represent the culmination of many months of work by the Council, and needs to be in place before we turn our attention to authorizing a full phase VII of Oil-for-Food," he said. Burleigh commended the leadership of the Office of the Iraq Program in managing the Oil-for-Food program, "especially in light of the obstacles recently erected by the Iraqi regime." He said "the United States will continue to support the uninterrupted continuation of this program as long as it remains necessary for the international community to address urgent civilian needs which the Iraqi government chooses to ignore." Following is the text of Burleigh's statement: (begin text) United Sates Mission To The United Nations December 3, 1999 Explanation of Vote by Ambassador A. Peter Burleigh, Deputy Permanent Representative, United States Mission to the United Nations, on "Oil-for-Food," Security Council, December 3, 1999 The United States has a deep and enduring interest in the welfare of Iraqi citizens living under the regime of Saddam Hussein. We took a leading role in shaping the oil-for-food program from its original conception shortly after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. We note with satisfaction the documented success of this important humanitarian effort. Oil-for-Food is the largest humanitarian assistance effort in United Nations history, and it has brought about a significant improvement in living conditions for the civilian population throughout Iraq. As all of you know, normal United Nations operations are ongoing throughout Iraq. Despite the Iraqi government's unjustified recent decision to curtail authorized oil production and exports, large quantities of humanitarian supplies continue arriving in the country on a daily basis. There has been no disruption of humanitarian assistance under the Oil-for-Food program, and it is a matter of the utmost importance that the program continue without disruption. For that reason, we applaud the action the Council has taken today in acting to extend phase VI of the program for seven days, through December 11. This resolution ensures that essential humanitarian assistance can continue while the Security Council prepares for adoption of a comprehensive resolution on Iraq next week. Adoption of that resolution, which includes many important provisions bearing on the next Oil-for-Food program, will clear the way for action on a full six-month extension of the program a week from now. That resolution will represent the culmination of many months of work by the Council, and needs to be in place before we turn our attention to authorizing a full phase VII of Oil-for-Food. We also commend the leadership of the Office of the Iraq Program in managing the Oil-for-Food program, especially in light of the obstacles recently erected by the Iraqi regime. We call upon the government of Iraq to cease the cynical posturing we have seen over the past two weeks, to resume authorized oil production and exports without delay, and to cooperate fully with the program during the coming week and in the future. In closing, I could recall that the Oil-for-Food program, as established by the Council in Resolution 986, is a temporary measure. It was never intended to usurp the primary responsibility for meeting civilian needs in Iraq, which continues to reside with the government of that country. The United Nations has been compelled to take this temporary measure because of the blatant disregard which the Iraqi regime has demonstrated for the well-being of the Iraqi people. The United States will continue to support the uninterrupted continuation of this program as long as it remains necessary for the international community to address urgent civilian needs which the Iraqi government chooses to ignore. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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