ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:97060404.NNE

DATE:06/04/97

TITLE:04-06-97  TEXT: BURNS STATEMENT ON RENEWAL OF IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD PLAN



TEXT:

(Calls on Iraqi regime to live up to its responsibility) (420)



Washington -- "The U.S. will continue to do its part to ensure the

rapid delivery of humanitarian goods to the people of Iraq," State

Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said June 4 following U.S. renewal

for six more months of UN Resolution 986, the Iraqi Oil-for Food plan.



"The Iraqi regime should finally live up to its responsibility to do

the same," Burns said, citing Iraqi efforts to abuse the privileges

offered by the resolution, which resulted in delay of some

humanitarian deliveries to Iraqis in need during the first six months

of the program.



Following is the text of Burns' statement:



(Begin text)



The United States is pleased to agree to a six-month renewal of the

program to provide supplementary humanitarian goods to the Iraqi

people under UNSCR 986. The U.S. sponsored this resolution and earlier

initiatives as far back as 1991 to ease the burden on the Iraqi people

imposed by the misrule of the Iraqi regime.



The U.S. sincerely regrets that Iraqi efforts to abuse the privileges

offered by Resolution 986 resulted in delay of some humanitarian

deliveries to Iraqis in need. Iraq has failed to abide by procedures

agreed with the UN Secretariat and attempted to evade monitoring of

the distribution of goods and reinterpret its obligations under the

resolution. The UN Secretary General's report of the first six months

of 986 implementation cites some of these abuses. We will maintain our

insistence on full respect for the agreed system, even if it delays

some deliveries.



The U.S. will continue to do its part to ensure the rapid delivery of

humanitarian goods to the people of Iraq. The Iraqi regime should

finally live up to its responsibility to do the same. Even before 986,

there were no limits on Baghdad's ability to import humanitarian

supplies such as food and medicine for the relief of the Iraqi people.

We call upon the Iraqi regime to devote a decent, compassionate share

of its national resources to this crucial task and to avoid putting

the additional relief provided under 986 at risk by failing to

implement the resolution transparently and accountably.



As the 986 program is renewed, we would welcome improvements to the

UN's operations, particularly in the northern governorates, where the

UN is directly responsible for meeting humanitarian needs.



(End text)

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