DATE=3/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-IRAQ DEBATE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260576
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today 
(Friday) that delays on shipments to Iraq are 
hindering the humanitarian relief program there.  But 
the United States said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein 
is responsible for his country's suffering.  VOA 
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United 
Nations. 

TEXT: U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the 
Security Council that many of the delays in Iraqi 
imports -- or "holds" as they are called - are having 
a direct negative impact on the program of 
humanitarian relief in Iraq.  The United States and 
Britain have imposed "holds" on 11 percent of about 
10-thousand Iraqi contracts either because the items 
ordered could be used for weapons or because there is 
insufficient information about the items. 

Iraq says the "holds" are seriously impairing the oil-
for-food program in which Iraq is allowed to sell oil 
to raise money for humanitarian purposes. China, 
France and Russia agreed.  Mr. Annan said that, 
whether the Iraqi position is true or not, it has 
become widely accepted.

            /// ANNAN ACT ///

      We are in danger of losing the argument, or the 
      propaganda war, if we have not lost it already, 
      about who is responsible for the situation in 
      Iraq, President Saddam Hussein or the United 
      Nations.

            /// END ACT ///

But United States representative James Cunningham said 
there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein is directly 
responsible for the sufferings of his people.  Mr. 
Cunningham said the "holds" are necessary to prevent 
Iraq from obtaining materials that could be used in 
weapons of mass destruction.  However, he noted that 
the United States is speeding up its efforts to review 
items on "hold" and that 70 contracts that had been 
delayed are now being released to Iraq.

Mr. Cunningham said the United States agrees that Iraq 
is in need of more spare parts for its oil industry. 
The U-S is sponsoring a resolution that would allow 
Iraq to double the amount it can spend on spare parts 
and approval of that resolution is expected next week.

     /// REST OPT ///    

Mr. Cunningham showed Security Council members several 
charts and graphs which indicate that even as Iraqi 
oil revenue has increased, food purchases have 
remained level. He also accused Iraq of smuggling oil 
to raise money for luxury goods, military salaries and 
the financing of terrorism. Mr. Cunningham circulated 
a U-S reconnaissance photo which shows a huge 
artificial lake built around an Iraqi presidential 
palace at the time of a severe drought in that 
country.  Mr. Cunningham said the evidence is clear 
about who is responsible for the humanitarian problems 
in Iraq.

            /// CUNNINGHAM ACT ///

      Sanctions by themselves are not the problem. The 
      sanctions on Iraq have never targeted the Iraqi 
      people and have not limited the import of food 
      and medicine. Where there has been deprivation 
      in Iraq the Iraqi regime is responsible due both 
      to its failure to meet its obligations under 
      Security Council resolutions and its cynical 
      manipulation of civilian suffering in an effort 
      to obtain the lifting of sanctions without 
      compliance.

            /// END ACT ///

A Security Council resolution approved late last year 
provides for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq if 
it fully complies with U-N weapons inspections. 
(Signed) 

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL



24-Mar-2000 15:58 PM EDT (24-Mar-2000 2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.