DATE=9/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ / PLANE (L)
NUMBER=2-266618
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A Russian plane carrying senior Russian oil
executives has reportedly landed in Baghdad, defying
international sanctions against Iraq. Correspondent
Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East Bureau in
Cairo that the flight comes as the Russian air carrier
Aeroflot is reportedly preparing to reopen its offices
in Baghdad.
TEXT: The official Iraqi News Agency says 11 senior
Russian oil executives arrived Sunday in Baghdad on a
flight directly from Moscow.
Qatar's al-Jazeera television broadcast a report
showing the arrival of a (Tupalov) Russian-built
passenger plane at the airport and welcoming
ceremonies at the terminal.
The Iraqi News Agency quoted the leader of the Russian
delegation as saying the flight showed Russia rejects
the air embargo against Iraq.
Last month a Russian passenger plane landed at
Baghdad's international airport, days after it was
reopened following a multi-million-dollar
refurbishing. It was billed as the first such flight
since sanctions were imposed 10-years ago after Iraq's
invasion of Kuwait.
Aeroflot has announced it intends to reopen its
offices in Baghdad in four to six-weeks and will
resume flights as soon as the U-N embargo on air
travel to Iraq is lifted.
The U-N sanctions against Iraq reportedly do not
specifically prohibit passenger travel. Iraq rejects
the embargo on air travel. The U-N Security Council,
which oversees the sanctions program, is divided over
the issue.
The U-S and British governments say authorization from
the U-N sanctions committee is required. Russia,
China and France says authorization is not required
for passenger flights.
A number of humanitarian flights have been allowed
with prior U-N authorization.
/// REST OPT. ///
The Russian flight last month carried Russian disaster
emergency officials and was billed as a humanitarian
flight. Russian officials said the U-N sanctions
committee was notified of the flight, but
authorization was not requested.
Two-years ago, Iraqi planes flew Muslim pilgrims to
Saudi Arabia without authorization for the annual haj
pilgrimage. The United Nations subsequently
authorized Iraqi haj flights.
An Italian pilot last April flew a small plane from
Jordan to Baghdad in a gesture of solidarity with the
suffering of the Iraqi people. The pilot was
subsequently convicted in absentia by a Jordanian
court and sentenced to three-years in prison. The
Iraqi government has condemned the verdict. (SIGNED)
NEB/SS/ALW/RAE
17-Sep-2000 11:48 AM EDT (17-Sep-2000 1548 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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