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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

05 December 2002

Iraqi Oil-For-Food Program Renewed

(U.S. determined to add military items to review list, envoy says)
(450)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- The Security Council December 4 unanimously agreed
to extend the oil-for-food humanitarian aid program for Iraq until May
2003.
Adopting the resolution just hours before it was to expire, the
Security Council also agreed to a United States demand that it
consider "necessary adjustments" to the so-called Goods Review List
which contains items that need the approval of the Security Council
Sanctions Committee before they can be imported into Iraq.
Under the oil-for-food program, which began in 1996, Iraq is allowed
to sell oil under U.N. supervision and use a portion of the proceeds
to buy food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods for Iraqi
civilians. Under the current system all humanitarian items not covered
by U.N. sanctions do not need sanctions committee approval. So-called
dual-use items which could be used for military purposes are placed on
the Goods Review List and need committee approval before Iraq can
purchase them.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said during the negotiations on the
resolution that "the United States objective has been very clear: to
continue the humanitarian program to meet the needs of the Iraqi
civilians, while strengthening the Goods Review List and its
procedures to ensure that Baghdad does not manipulate the program to
increase its support for conventional military or weapons of mass
destruction programs."
Speaking with journalists after the vote, Negroponte said that changes
to the Goods Review List are urgently needed. The importance the U.S.
attaches to the issue "should not be underestimated," he said.
Negroponte and other U.S. officials have said that they want about 50
items added to the list including atropine, which can be used as an
antidote to nerve gas, and global position system jammers.
"It is imperative that Iraq not be able to take advantage of loopholes
or omissions in the [Goods Review List] to acquire items that
strengthen its conventional and weapons of mass destruction
capabilities. ... We are determined to move swiftly together with our
colleagues to implement this evening's decision," the ambassador said.
"We shouldn't underestimate the United States determination to
accomplish changes in this list," said Negroponte, who is the chief
U.S. envoy to the U.N.
Negroponte said that the changes in the list sought by Washington are
not directly related to the weapons inspections now underway in Iraq.
In the resolution, the council also asked Secretary General Kofi Annan
to report on the Goods Review List and on whether Iraq has ensured the
equitable distribution of medicine, health supplies, foodstuffs, and
other materials essential for civilian needs.
Since the program began, over $25,000 million worth of food, medicine
and equipment have been delivered to Iraq, including $1,600 million
worth of parts and equipment for Iraq's oil industry. Another $10,500
million in supplies are currently in the delivery pipeline.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)



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