DATE=03/02/01

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=KUWAIT/ IRAQ SANCTIONS

NUMBER=5-49079

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: It has been ten years since the end of the Gulf War, and many Arabs say the time has come to end sanctions imposed against Iraq for its invasion of Kuwait. Dale Gavlak recently returned from Kuwait and she reports that even many Kuwaitis are expressing strong reservations about continuing sanctions in any form, including those that would specifically target the man who masterminded the invasion of Kuwait, Saddam Hussein.

TEXT: During recent celebrations in Kuwait to mark its liberation from Iraqi occupation ten years ago, investment manager Salah el Falah was one of many Kuwaitis who feared that Iraq could invade again.

/// FALAH ACT ///

This guy Saddam Hussein you can never trust. He might hit Kuwait tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. That's for 100 percent (sure). (He is not invading because of the American military presence here.)

/// END ACT//

Housewife Rania el Saad agrees, saying that Kuwaitis would feel more secure if there was someone other than Saddam Hussein in charge in Baghdad.

/// SAAD ACT ///

Changing the regime is the thing that would give us a relief. We are not safe.

/// END ACT ///

Although these Kuwaitis desperately want to see Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his associates out of power, they say they are not convinced that continuing sanctions against Baghdad can bring that about. Mrs. Saad, for example, considers the sanctions ineffective.

/// 2nd SAAD ACT ///

It has been 10 years and still nothing happened. They're still doing the same and having their propaganda. Nothing has changed.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Falah is even more strongly opposed to continuing the economic embargo against Iraq.

/// 2nd FALAH ACT ///

Sanctions will never harm Saddam but (will) harm his people. Saddam needs something else against him. What I don't know. I'm sure the Americans, the British, know how to remove him from power, but sanctions will never remove him from power.

/// END ACT ///

Engineer Ahmed el Eissa, like many Kuwaitis, regrets the effects of the sanctions on ordinary Iraqis, but he considers them necessary to keep President Saddam Hussein in check.

/// EISSA ACT ///

Sanctions hurt the people more than the regime itself but since the regime is still active and still going on with aggressions on people and others this is the only way to keep him down.

/// END ACT ///

Iraq's ambassador to the Arab League, Mohsen Khalil, speaking recently in Cairo, condemned U-S and British proposals to adopt so-called "smart sanctions" that would target President Saddam's regime and have less effect on the Iraqi people.

/// KHALIL ACT IN ARABIC ///

Mr. Khalil says the proposal to shift from global to smart sanctions shows that the sanctions imposed on Iraq are no longer internationally accepted. (Signed)

NEB/DG/KL/PLM