DATE=2/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ OIL (L)
NUMBER=2-259685
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A new U-S government report says Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein is spending billions of
dollars on luxury palaces and imported whiskey, while
at the same time complaining about a lack of food and
medicine for his people. From the State Department,
V-O-A's Kyle King has this report.
TEXT: The State Department report relies on newly
declassified spy satellite photos that show how much
progress has been made on several large palaces.
Officials say five of nine major palace complexes are
located near Baghdad, and feature elaborate gardens,
man-made lakes and waterfalls.
State Department spokesman James Rubin says more than
two-billion dollars has been spent on palace
construction in Iraq since the gulf war.
/// Rubin Act ///
In these types of palaces, they feature marble
floors, crystal chandeliers, and according to
eyewitnesses, gold plated faucets and other
excesses.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Rubin also accused Iraqi authorities of importing
tens of thousands of bottles of whiskey and other
luxury goods each week, while failing to buy enough
food and medicine for its people.
/// Rubin Act ///
Food is exempt from (U-N) sanctions, and these
goods are classified as food, so Baghdad is
importing all of this legally. The important
point here, is that the regime is getting drunk
while it claims its people don't have enough to
eat.
/// End Act ///
Under U-N sanctions and the U-N - run oil for food
program, the profits from Iraqi crude oil sales can
only be spent on food, medicine and approved
equipment.
But U-S officials say Iraq is illegally smuggling
about 100-thousand barrels of oil a day out the
country from a refinery in Basra.
Declassified photos show ships lining up near the
refinery. U-S officials say they are looking at ways
to tighten controls on the ships that often hug the
Iranian coast and then off-load the oil to other
vessels in the Persian Gulf.
U-S and other ships enforcing the U-N sanctions have
inspected more than 28-thousands vessels in the Gulf.
About 700 were found to be carrying illegal cargo, but
officials confess they do not know how much is
sneaking though. (signed)
NEB/KBK/JP
29-Feb-2000 16:28 PM EDT (29-Feb-2000 2128 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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