DATE=3/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ REPORT (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260178
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Iraq's
oil industry is in decline and is in urgent need of
repair to meet that country's humanitarian needs. VOA
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: In a report to the U-N Security Council, Mr.
Annan says Iraqi oil production has been declining in
recent weeks because of a lack of spare parts. The
secretary-general is concerned that the falling rate
of production will jeopardize the "oil-for-food"
program that allows Iraq to sell oil to raise money
for food, medicine and other humanitarian purposes.
The report has not yet been officially released but
has been widely circulated at U-N headquarters. The
report calls on the Security Council to double, from
600 million dollars to one-point-two billion dollars,
the amount of money Iraq is allowed to spend for oil
industry maintenance and rehabilitation.
However, many non-humanitarian products Iraq has
ordered have been blocked by the United States and
Britain on the grounds that the items could be used
for military as well as civilian purposes. In his
report, Mr. Annan describes the blocking of those
orders as "excessive."
The United States maintains that money from the "oil-
for-food" program is sufficient to meet humanitarian
needs if the Iraqi government appropriates it and
other funds wisely.
The Security Council is expected to discuss the
Secretary-General's report at a meeting next week.
Russia's U-N ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, says a public
discussion is needed.
/// LAVROV ACT ///
We expect this report will provide us with an
opportunity to have an open and frank discussion
of the Iraqi humanitarian problem in the
Security Council. There are too many countries
that are concerned about what is going on in
Iraq that the Council can not just discuss this
in a closed session and should really have it in
the open.
/// END ACT ///
The Council has decided it will discuss the
humanitarian situation in Iraq in both closed and open
sessions.
U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently in
London, did not comment directly on his report but he
did tell reporters the sanctions against Iraq had hurt
the Iraqi people. He went on to point out there is
now discussion within the Security Council on the
issue of so-called "smart sanctions," which would
target individuals rather than entire populations.
(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/ENE/KL
14-Mar-2000 14:26 PM EDT (14-Mar-2000 1926 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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