DATE=3/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UN IRAQI OIL (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260581
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States today (Friday) introduced a
resolution in the U-N Security Council that would
substantially increase the amount of money that Iraq
is allowed to spend on its oil industry. V-O-A
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: U-S representative James Cunningham told the
Security Council the United States agrees that the
Iraqi oil industry is in need of more spare parts.
Under the U-N's oil-for food program, Iraq sells oil
to raise money for humanitarian purposes.
Mr. Cunningham said the U-S supports a recommendation
from the U-N secretary-general that the amount of
money Iraq can spend on spare parts be doubled from
300-million dollars to 600-million dollars every six
months. A U-S-sponsored resolution to do that is
expected to be approved within a week.
But Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov questioned
whether the increase will do any good if the United
States continues, through the U-N's Iraq sanctions
committee, to block certain shipments to Iraq. The
United States says those shipments that are blocked
are those containing items that could be used in
weapons or shipments with insufficient information on
what they contain.
Speaking through an English translator, Mr. Lavrov
said doubling the amount Iraq can spend on spare parts
is meaningless unless the parts can be shipped.
/// Lavrov translator act ///
The contracts for spare parts and equipment
should not be blocked in the sanctions
committee, otherwise there would be no point to
this decision.
/// End Act ///
The Security Council is grappling with what U-N
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called a "moral
dilemma" for the world organization. The council is
trying to ensure the Iraqi people receive sufficient
humanitarian relief, while also guarding against the
Iraqi government's acquisition of items that could be
used in weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. Annan says the simple solution would be for Iraq
to comply with the U-N resolution, approved in
December, that says sanctions will be lifted if Iraq
fully complies with U-N weapons inspections. So far,
Iraq has said it will not cooperate with the U-N
resolution.(Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/JP
24-Mar-2000 17:26 PM EDT (24-Mar-2000 2226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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