DATE=9/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ALBRIGHT/IRAQ (L/S)
NUMBER=2-254109
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Leaders of Iraq's opposition in exile are 
urging the United States and its allies to find ways 
to get more humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people 
while maintaining sanctions against the government of 
President Saddam Hussein.  Members of the Iraqi 
National Congress met with Secretary of State 
Madeleine Albright in New York Monday where diplomatic 
efforts are underway to find agreement within the 
United Nations Security Council on a way to get U-N 
weapons inspectors back in the country.  Correspondent 
Nick Simeone has details.

TEXT:  The 16 members of the Iraqi delegation who met 
with Secretary Albright encouraged the United States 
to find a way to get food and medicine to Iraq while 
not allowing one more penny, as they put it, to go to 
President Saddam.  Members of the Iraqi National 
Congress are in New York meeting with leaders from a 
range of governments here to attend the U-N General 
Assembly.  

The opposition group says it would support lifting 
restrictions on the amount of oil Iraq could sell in 
exchange for more imported goods  -- but believes more 
monitors must be stationed in the country to ensure 
that the money flows through the United Nations and is 
put toward humanitarian needs and not diverted by the 
Iraqi government.  

The United States is having what a senior U-S official 
calls an extraordinarily difficult time finding 
agreement among U-N members on a new resolution, one 
sponsored by Britain and the Netherlands, that would 
put weapons inspectors back in Iraq in exchange for an 
easing of some sanctions.  The United States and 
Britain maintain most sanctions should remain until 
Baghdad accounts for all of its suspected weapons of 
mass destruction.  But that view is drawing new 
criticism: The top U-N official Iraq is calling for an 
immediate lifting of sanctions, saying it's time to 
separate humanitarian concerns from other issues.  

            // REST OPT //

The Clinton administration is hoping members of the 
Iraqi National Congress will persuade other countries 
- in particular Russia and China -- to support keeping 
most sanctions in place while it continues to work to 
undermine President Saddam.  The administration has 
begun work to establish a war crimes tribunal for 
Iraqi leaders and is expected to soon begin disbursing 
some 97-million-dollars approved by Congress to equip 
and train elements of the Iraqi opposition.  (Signed) 

NEB/NJS/TVM/gm



20-Sep-1999 18:22 PM EDT (20-Sep-1999 2222 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.