DATE=12/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ / OIL SMUGGLING (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257050
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council has
approved a six-month extension of a program to allow
Iraq to sell oil for money to buy food and medicines.
At the same time, the United States says Iraq has been
smuggling increasing amounts of oil to provide the
regime with money for its own -- non-humanitarian --
purposes. V-O-A's Gil Butler has a report from the
State Department.
TEXT: The State Department released a satellite photo
of the Shatt al-Arab waterway at Basra, which it says
shows foreign tankers loading up with oil. Under
United Nations sanctions, Iraq is allowed to ship oil
only from two designated ports under the "oil-for-
food" program.
The State Department says at the same time Iraq was
rejecting the U-N program, it smuggled 21-million
dollars worth of oil in November.
State Department spokesman James Foley said the United
Nations program allows Iraq to sell legitimately more
than five-billion dollars' worth of oil every six
months for humanitarian purchases.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
This kind of smuggling has nothing to do with
the international community's ability to feed
and help care for the humanitarian needs of the
Iraqi people. It occurs precisely because it
evades the controls of the United Nations. It
allows Saddam [Hussein] to line his pockets, to
build his palaces and to otherwise import goods
that would be prohibited by the United Nations.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Foley said the smuggling picked up significantly
in November when Iraq illicitly shipped 70-thousand
barrels of oil a day. He said the United States is
discussing what to do about the alleged smuggling with
other Security Council members. (Signed)
NEB/MGB/WTW
10-Dec-1999 16:33 PM EDT (10-Dec-1999 2133 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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