DATE=9/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ / PLANE (L)
NUMBER=2-266618
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  A Russian plane carrying senior Russian oil 
executives has reportedly landed in Baghdad, defying 
international sanctions against Iraq.  Correspondent 
Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East Bureau in 
Cairo that the flight comes as the Russian air carrier 
Aeroflot is reportedly preparing to reopen its offices 
in Baghdad.
TEXT:  The official Iraqi News Agency says 11 senior 
Russian oil executives arrived Sunday in Baghdad on a 
flight directly from Moscow.
Qatar's al-Jazeera television broadcast a report 
showing the arrival of a (Tupalov) Russian-built 
passenger plane at the airport and welcoming 
ceremonies at the terminal.
The Iraqi News Agency quoted the leader of the Russian 
delegation as saying the flight showed Russia rejects 
the air embargo against Iraq.
Last month a Russian passenger plane landed at 
Baghdad's international airport, days after it was 
reopened following a multi-million-dollar 
refurbishing.  It was billed as the first such flight 
since sanctions were imposed 10-years ago after Iraq's 
invasion of Kuwait.
Aeroflot has announced it intends to reopen its 
offices in Baghdad in four to six-weeks and will 
resume flights as soon as the U-N embargo on air 
travel to Iraq is lifted.
The U-N sanctions against Iraq reportedly do not 
specifically prohibit passenger travel.  Iraq rejects 
the embargo on air travel.  The U-N Security Council, 
which oversees the sanctions program, is divided over 
the issue.
The U-S and British governments say authorization from 
the U-N sanctions committee is required.  Russia, 
China and France says authorization is not required 
for passenger flights.
A number of humanitarian flights have been allowed 
with prior U-N authorization.
            /// REST OPT. ///
The Russian flight last month carried Russian disaster 
emergency officials and was billed as a humanitarian 
flight.  Russian officials said the U-N sanctions 
committee was notified of the flight, but 
authorization was not requested.
Two-years ago, Iraqi planes flew Muslim pilgrims to 
Saudi Arabia without authorization for the annual haj 
pilgrimage.  The United Nations subsequently 
authorized Iraqi haj flights.
An Italian pilot last April flew a small plane from 
Jordan to Baghdad in a gesture of solidarity with the 
suffering of the Iraqi people.  The pilot was 
subsequently convicted in absentia by a Jordanian 
court and sentenced to three-years in prison.  The 
Iraqi government has condemned the verdict.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SS/ALW/RAE
17-Sep-2000 11:48 AM EDT (17-Sep-2000 1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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