DATE=12/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-IRAQ OIL (L ONLY) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-257048
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council today
(Friday) extended for six months the oil-for-food
program for Iraq. The action came as the council
continued to consider a broader resolution intended to
return U-N weapons inspectors to Iraq and suspend U-N
sanctions if Iraq complies with the council's
disarmament requirements. Correspondent Larry Freund
reports from New York.
TEXT: The Security Council voted unanimously to extend
what has come to be known as the oil-for-food program
for a full six months. Under that program, Iraq is
allowed to sell more than five billion dollars worth
of oil every six months, with proceeds used for food,
medicine and other humanitarian supplies. The program
was started three years ago as an exception to the U-N
sanctions established after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
in 1990. The sanctions resolution remains in effect
because U-N inspectors have not certified that Iraq is
free of weapons of mass destruction and is not
manufacturing them.
The Security Council's six-month extension of the oil-
for-food program followed two earlier extensions for
two weeks and then one week which Iraq refused to
accept and stopped shipping oil.
After approving the extension of the oil-for-food
program, the Security Council continued consideration
of a comprehensive resolution to create a new arms
inspection program for Iraq. U-N weapons inspectors
left Iraq a year ago.
The resolution now being discussed has been under
review for several months by the five permanent
members of the Security Council. Diplomats say the
major problem has been finding agreement on the terms
under which the sanctions against Iraq would be
removed.
But the deputy U-S ambassador to the United Nations,
Peter Burleigh, told reporters talks are underway at
what he called very high political levels.
/// BURLEIGH ACTUALITY ///
A consensus I think has developed on the council
to bring this to closure - close to a consensus,
anyway, to bring this to closure soon. And the
psychology of that is that it puts a lot of
pressure on all sides, because the question is,
does one compromise further on certain issues or
not. We are in intense high-level, difficult
negotiations right now.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The United States and Britain have pressed for
language requiring Iraq's full cooperation with U-N
weapons inspectors before most sanctions are lifted.
But Russia prefers another, less demanding standard
for compliance. (Signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/KL
10-Dec-1999 16:06 PM EDT (10-Dec-1999 2106 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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