DATE=11/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ-U-N REACTION (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256459
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO: A United Nations official says that U-N 
humanitarian operations in Iraq will continue despite 
the Iraqi government's decision to suspend oil sales. 
V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the 
United Nations.  


TEXT: Chief U-N spokesman Fred Eckhard says the 
suspension of Iraqi oil sales will have no immediate 
impact on U-N humanitarian work there.

            /// ECKHARD ACT ///

      We will be continuing our work. There are an 
      awful lot of supplies in the pipeline so our 
      work does not need to stop just because the oil 
      stopped flowing. Our hope is that this can 
      eventually be worked out and that they (Iraq) 
      will continue the oil-for-food program.

            /// END ACT ///

Iraq ended its oil shipments to protest Friday's 
decision by the U-N Security Council to extend the so-
called "oil-for-food" program for just two weeks. For 
the past three years, the Council has extended - for 
six months each time - Iraq's authority to sell oil to 
raise money for humanitarian purposes. But because of 
differences between the United States and Russia, the 
program was extended only for two weeks.

Russia and the United States were unable to agree on 
raising the amount of oil Iraq can sell and on 
doubling the amount of money Iraq can spend on spare 
parts for its oil industry.  Sergey Lavrov, Russia's 
ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters Iraq 
definitely needs those spare parts.

            /// LAVROV ACT ///

      Even before the two-week extension was agreed to 
      in the Council as a bridging measure, there were 
      reports from Baghdad that Iraq was seriously 
      thinking about reducing its oil production and 
      export because its equipment was wearing out and 
      they did not want to risk the infrastructure by 
      pumping more and more.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Lavrov would not comment on private talks among 
the five permanent members of the U-N Security Council 
on a comprehensive resolution on Iraq. Under 
discussion is a resolution that would lift economic 
sanctions against Iraq in exchange for the return of 
weapons inspectors to that country. The United States 
is hopeful an agreement on that can be reached within 
two weeks but the Russian ambassador says there is no 
time limit.(Signed) 


NEB/UN/BA/gm 



22-Nov-1999 18:44 PM EDT (22-Nov-1999 2344 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.