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DATE=09/27/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-

TITLE=IRAQ / JORDAN PLANE (L)

BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Jordan has become the third country in a week to send a commercial passenger plane to Iraq. V-O-A Middle East Correspondent Scott Bobb reports the chartered plane arrived in Baghdad (Wednesday evening) carrying humanitarian supplies and a large contingent of politicians and medical staff.

TEXT: The chartered Airbus of the Royal Jordanian Airlines flew to Baghdad with about 70 passengers, including cabinet ministers, political party leaders, and doctors and medical supplies.

The head of the delegation, Jordanian Health Minister Tareq Sehaimat, said the reason for the flight was humanitarian.

/// SEHAIMAT ACT ///

The purpose of this flight is to stress our support for our neighbor, which is one of the most important Arab countries, to support looking for the welfare of the Iraqi people.

/// END ACT ///

Officials say they had notified the U-N sanctions committee of the flight but that the plane flew to Baghdad without U-N authorization.

The flight came as France prepares to send its second passenger flight in one week to Baghdad (on Friday), and Russia is preparing to send its fourth flight in a month.

France and Russia are challenging the practice of requiring U-N permission for all flights to Iraq, saying non-commercial passenger flights do not violate the ban on trade with Iraq. U-S and British officials object to the flights. U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the U-S Senate on Tuesday she is very concerned about these flights.

Iraqis have welcomed the flights, saying they are evidence that the 10-year-old sanctions against Iraq are eroding.

The manager of the Ma'moun publishing house in Baghdad, Khudeir Ahmed, said Iraq has been betting on countries like Russia and France that have vested interests in Iraq.

/// AHMED ACT ///

We are happy with the initiative of Russia and France. Now they are acting on their own. They are no longer heeding the U-S and British influence.

/// END ACT ///

/// OPT /// A former Jordanian information minister, Ibrahim Izzideen, says there are economic reasons for Jordan's desire to increase ties with Iraq. Jordan is a major exporter to Iraq and imports most of its oil from Iraq at discounted prices. But Professor Izzideen says more important is the popular support in Jordan for ending Iraq's isolation.

/// OPT // IZZIDEEN ACT //

Most of the Jordanians, maybe all of the Jordanians, have got a very clear vision about what should happen in relation to Iraq. They would like to see the Iraqi people resume their normal lives. They would like the sanctions to be lifted very soon.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

Iraq is pressing other Arab countries to follow Jordan's example and resume commercial flights to Baghdad. Several other countries reportedly are considering sending planes in the near future. (Signed)

NEB/SB/KL/JWH