DATE=12/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N APPROVES IRAQ MEASURE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257259
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Security Council today
(Friday) approved a long-awaited resolution that could
result in the lifting of economic sanctions against
Iraq. But as VOA correspondent Breck Ardery reports,
the vote was not unanimous and there is serious doubt
about whether Iraq will comply with the resolution.
TEXT: After almost a year of discussion, debate and
delay, the Iraq resolution was approved with 11 votes
in favor and three permanent members - China, France
and Russia - abstaining, along with Malaysia.
The resolution would lift economic sanctions against
Iraq if it fully cooperates with a new U-N weapons
inspections team for 120 consecutive days. If, at any
time, Iraq stops cooperating with the inspectors, the
sanctions could be re-imposed. But the nations that
abstained in the vote argued the resolution is
ambiguous because "cooperation" is subject to
differing interpretations. China alluded to the fact
that Iraq has already stated it will not allow weapons
inspectors back in the country, saying that without
Iraqi cooperation, the resolution does not mean much.
Iraq has refused to admit weapons inspectors since
last December when Britain and the United States
launched air strikes against Iraq.
Although Russia had some strong reservations about the
resolution, it did not veto it. Speaking, through an
English translator, Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov
explained why.
/// LAVROV TRANSLATOR ACT ///
Russia reserves its right to determine its
future position on this matter. But, at this
stage, what is important is, despite all the
disagreements on the draft resolution before us,
it was possible to avoid a split in the Security
Council which would have been fraught with
unilateral and possibly even actions of force.
And we have been able to confirm the key role of
the Council in the political settlement of the
most important problem of the world today.
///END ACT///
The U-S deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Peter
Burleigh, took note of the four abstentions but said
there are a few things to which all Council members
agree.
/// BURLEIGH ACT ///
The vote today was not unanimous; but no member
asserts that Iraq has met its obligations under
the Council's resolutions. No Council member
argues that Iraq has disarmed as required. No
Council member would say that Iraq has met its
obligations to Kuwait or to the families of the
missing. We expect all members of the Council,
regardless of their vote on this resolution, to
join in pressing Iraq for full and immediate
implementation.
/// END ACT ///
The resolution provides one immediate benefit for
Iraq. It lifts the ceiling on the amount of oil it can
sell to raise money for food and other humanitarian
supplies. Although the oil ceiling is lifted, Iraqi
oil sales and purchases of supplies will remain under
U-N supervision. (Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL
17-Dec-1999 14:57 PM EDT (17-Dec-1999 1957 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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