DATE=3/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-IRAQ DEBATE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260576
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today
(Friday) that delays on shipments to Iraq are
hindering the humanitarian relief program there. But
the United States said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
is responsible for his country's suffering. VOA
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the
Security Council that many of the delays in Iraqi
imports -- or "holds" as they are called - are having
a direct negative impact on the program of
humanitarian relief in Iraq. The United States and
Britain have imposed "holds" on 11 percent of about
10-thousand Iraqi contracts either because the items
ordered could be used for weapons or because there is
insufficient information about the items.
Iraq says the "holds" are seriously impairing the oil-
for-food program in which Iraq is allowed to sell oil
to raise money for humanitarian purposes. China,
France and Russia agreed. Mr. Annan said that,
whether the Iraqi position is true or not, it has
become widely accepted.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
We are in danger of losing the argument, or the
propaganda war, if we have not lost it already,
about who is responsible for the situation in
Iraq, President Saddam Hussein or the United
Nations.
/// END ACT ///
But United States representative James Cunningham said
there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein is directly
responsible for the sufferings of his people. Mr.
Cunningham said the "holds" are necessary to prevent
Iraq from obtaining materials that could be used in
weapons of mass destruction. However, he noted that
the United States is speeding up its efforts to review
items on "hold" and that 70 contracts that had been
delayed are now being released to Iraq.
Mr. Cunningham said the United States agrees that Iraq
is in need of more spare parts for its oil industry.
The U-S is sponsoring a resolution that would allow
Iraq to double the amount it can spend on spare parts
and approval of that resolution is expected next week.
/// REST OPT ///
Mr. Cunningham showed Security Council members several
charts and graphs which indicate that even as Iraqi
oil revenue has increased, food purchases have
remained level. He also accused Iraq of smuggling oil
to raise money for luxury goods, military salaries and
the financing of terrorism. Mr. Cunningham circulated
a U-S reconnaissance photo which shows a huge
artificial lake built around an Iraqi presidential
palace at the time of a severe drought in that
country. Mr. Cunningham said the evidence is clear
about who is responsible for the humanitarian problems
in Iraq.
/// CUNNINGHAM ACT ///
Sanctions by themselves are not the problem. The
sanctions on Iraq have never targeted the Iraqi
people and have not limited the import of food
and medicine. Where there has been deprivation
in Iraq the Iraqi regime is responsible due both
to its failure to meet its obligations under
Security Council resolutions and its cynical
manipulation of civilian suffering in an effort
to obtain the lifting of sanctions without
compliance.
/// END ACT ///
A Security Council resolution approved late last year
provides for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq if
it fully complies with U-N weapons inspections.
(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL
24-Mar-2000 15:58 PM EDT (24-Mar-2000 2058 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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