DATE=6/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ - U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263311
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO: The United Nations Security Council has agreed 
to extend the oil-for-food program to Iraq for another 
six months. From Cairo, Lisa Bryant reports the last-
minute vote will also allow the UN to make a 
comprehensive survey of the humanitarian situation in 
Iraq. 

TEXT:  Besides extending the oil-for-food program, the 
Security Council resolution will allow speedier 
delivery of water and basic sanitation supplies into 
Iraq, by no longer requiring a prior approval from the 
UN's sanctions committee. Until now, those goods were 
part of a list of items checked to make sure they 
would not be used for military purposes. 

The new resolution keeps the amount Iraq can spend to 
repair its oil equipment at 600 million dollars. The 
oil-for-food program, which was established in 1996, 
allows Iraq to spend the money from its oil sales to 
buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. 

The Security Council also agreed to launch an 
extensive humanitarian survey in Iraq.  Critics, 
including a number of UN officials, have argued that 
the sanctions have imposed undue hardships on ordinary 
Iraqis.

Critics also say the sanctions have increased 
malnutrition in that country, and sometimes helped 
cause death among children. Earlier this year, two 
senior UN officials in Baghdad resigned after 
criticizing the oil-for-food program. 


Earlier this week, foreign ministers from Arab 
countries gathered in Cairo to look for ways to end 
the sanctions on Iraq. But the meeting produced no 
firm agreement. 

For its part, Baghdad has blasted the latest vote to 
extend the oil for food program, and blamed the 
sanctions for what it describes as soaring 
malnutrition and medical problems among Iraqis. On 
Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported Iraq's 
Minister for Labor called for an end to the sanctions, 
saying it was a legal and humanitarian responsibility. 

Baghdad has not allowed UN weapons inspectors into the 
country since late 1998. The UN says sanctions on Iraq 
cannot be lifted unless inspectors have verified that 
the country is free from all weapons of mass 
destruction.
(SIGNED)

NEB/LB/PLM


 



09-Jun-2000 04:55 AM EDT (09-Jun-2000 0855 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.