DATE=3/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ REPORT (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260178
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Iraq's 
oil industry is in decline and is in urgent need of 
repair to meet that country's humanitarian needs. VOA 
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United 
Nations.

TEXT:  In a report to the U-N Security Council, Mr. 
Annan says Iraqi oil production has been declining in 
recent weeks because of a lack of spare parts. The 
secretary-general is concerned that the falling rate 
of production will jeopardize the "oil-for-food" 
program that allows Iraq to sell oil to raise money 
for food, medicine and other humanitarian purposes.

The report has  not  yet been officially released but 
has been widely circulated at U-N headquarters.  The 
report calls on the Security Council to double, from 
600 million dollars to one-point-two billion dollars, 
the amount of money Iraq is allowed to spend for oil 
industry maintenance and rehabilitation.

However, many non-humanitarian products Iraq has 
ordered have been blocked by the United States and 
Britain on the grounds that the items could be used 
for military as well as civilian purposes. In his 
report, Mr. Annan describes the blocking of those 
orders as "excessive." 

The United States maintains that money from the "oil-
for-food" program is sufficient to meet humanitarian 
needs if the Iraqi government appropriates it and 
other funds wisely.

The Security Council is expected to discuss the 
Secretary-General's report at a meeting next week. 
Russia's U-N ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, says a public 
discussion is needed. 

            /// LAVROV ACT ///

      We expect this report will provide us with an 
      opportunity to have an open and frank discussion 
      of the Iraqi humanitarian problem in the 
      Security Council. There are too many countries 
      that are concerned about what is going on in 
      Iraq that the Council can not just discuss this 
      in a closed session and should really have it in 
      the open.

            /// END ACT ///

The Council has decided it will discuss the 
humanitarian situation in Iraq in both closed and open 
sessions.

U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is currently in 
London, did not comment directly on his report but he 
did tell reporters the sanctions against Iraq had hurt 
the Iraqi people.  He went on to point out there is 
now discussion within the Security Council on the 
issue of so-called "smart sanctions," which would 
target individuals rather than entire populations. 
(Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/ENE/KL



14-Mar-2000 14:26 PM EDT (14-Mar-2000 1926 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.