DATE=        06/25/99
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-08348
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  IRAQ SANCTIONS RESOLUTION

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
06/25/99.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 
ESTABLISHED THREE PANELS ON IRAQ TO ASSESS DISARMAMENT, 
HUMANITARIAN, AND KUWAIT-RELATED ISSUES.  THE PANELS REPORTED IN 
APRIL.  ALL THREE FOUND IRAQ IN VIOLATION OF ITS U-N OBLIGATIONS.

    THE HUMANITARIAN PANEL FOUND SOME IMPROVEMENTS AS A RESULT OF
THE U-N PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS IRAQ TO EXPORT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS' 
WORTH OF OIL AND USE THE BULK OF THE PROCEEDS FOR HUMANITARIAN 
SUPPLIES.  BUT THE PANEL SAID THAT SERIOUS PROBLEMS REMAIN 
BECAUSE OF THE BAGHDAD REGIME'S FAILURE TO ORDER CRITICAL 
SUPPLIES AND DISTRIBUTE THEM FAIRLY.  THE KUWAIT ISSUES PANEL 
CITED IRAQ'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON KUWAITIS AND 
OTHERS MISSING FROM THE PERSIAN GULF WAR NEARLY NINE YEARS AGO, 
AND ITS FAILURE TO RETURN PROPERTY STOLEN IN THE WAR, INCLUDING 
KUWAIT'S NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

    PERHAPS MOST ALARMING WAS THE REPORT OF THE DISARMAMENT 
PANEL.  IT CONFIRMED FINDINGS OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS THAT IRAQ
HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS REQUIRING 
THE ELIMINATION OF ALL PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, AND
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES.  THESE 
FINDINGS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IRAQ IS STILL A THREAT TO PEACE.

    TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, THE SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD GIVE 
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO A RESOLUTION INTRODUCED BY BRITAIN AND 
CO-SPONSORED BY THE NETHERLANDS, SLOVENIA, AND ARGENTINA.  ANY 
RESOLUTION IT ADOPTS WOULD HAVE TO INSURE THAT IRAQ COMPLIES WITH
ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ALL EXISTING RESOLUTIONS; THAT THE 
OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM IS STRENGTHENED; AND THAT WEAPONS INSPECTION
TEAMS RESUME THEIR WORK.  THERE MUST BE NO CONSIDERATION OF 
LIFTING OR SUSPENDING SANCTIONS -- OR ANY OTHER "REWARDS" FOR 
IRAQ -- IN THE ABSENCE OF FULL IRAQI COMPLIANCE.  AND GIVEN THE 
BAGHDAD REGIME'S RECORD OF THREATENING REGIONAL PEACE AND 
SECURITY, IRAQI OIL REVENUES MUST REMAIN UNDER U-N CONTROL.

    WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE NOW BEEN BANNED FROM IRAQ BY ORDER OF
SADDAM HUSSEIN FOR SIX MONTHS.  THIS SITUATION IS FAR FROM IDEAL,
BUT IT IS PREFERABLE TO HASTY ACTION BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION WATERED DOWN TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO IRAQ.

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.

24-Jun-99 2:14 PM EDT (1814 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.