POLITICS: U.N. Council Split Looms Over Iraq Oil for Food Scheme

By Haider Rizvi Reprint | | Print |

Haider Rizvi

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 27 2002 (IPS) - The U.S. administration’s latest move to restrict the supply of humanitarian goods to Iraq may cause a split in the Security Council, which is to decide next week the future of Iraq’s "Oil for Food" programme, observers and diplomats here say.

Last Friday, the Security Council had reached broad agreement on extending the programme for six months, but on Monday, U.S. officials pushed to remove certain items from the so-called good review list.

Unable to reach agreement, the Council extended the programme – which expired Monday – for only nine days, until it meets again next Wednesday.

Diplomats say Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov was visibly upset at the end of Monday’s meetings because Moscow had been assured that the programme would be extended for six months if the Security Council approved the recent U.S. resolution that sent U.N. weapons inspectors back to Iraq.

At the last minute Monday, U.S. officials reportedly pressed the Council to extend the programme for only three months, a demand that startled many members. Washington wants to reopen the 300-page list of restricted items, which took months to negotiate and only took effect last year.

Diplomats say many Council members opposed the U.S. move by arguing that three months of supplies would run out late February, a time that could coincide with a U.S. military attack on Iraq.

"We want to see normal extension for six months," Norwegian ambassador Ole Peter Colby, whose country also voted in favour of the weapons inspections, told IPS. "We hope this discussion comes to an end on Dec. 4."

Under the programme, Iraq is allowed to import food, medicines and other essential humanitarian goods in exchange for exporting some of its oil.

The United States wants to add items to the list of restricted goods, such as geo-positioning devices and medicines that it believes could be used as antidotes during any chemical or biological conflict.

"What we are advocating is that there be a prompt review of the goods review list to tighten it up to ensure that it is not exploited or utilised in any way by the government of Iraq to import items for military purposes under civilian guise," said John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, after Monday’s meeting.

He reiterated U.S. allegations that Iraq had tried to import automatic injectors for certain chemicals "which have no possible civilian use, and would only be used or could only be used in a chemical warfare kind of situation".

Russia and other Security Council members are reportedly reluctant to re-open discussions on the list of goods but appear more interested in relaxing the restrictions.

Recently, the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) said the oil for food program had helped reduce child malnutrition in Iraq, but warned, "there are still close to one million children under the age of five suffering from chronic malnutrition in Iraq today – that’s nearly a quarter of all children of that age".

Commenting on the latest U.S. moves in the Security Council, Iraq’s ambassador Mohamed Aldouri said, "it’s not necessary to have any short-term rollover to keep oil going and the humanitarian help for our people. This goes along with their war project. Otherwise, there is no reason."

POLITICS: U.N. Council Split Looms Over Iraq Oil for Food Scheme

By Haider Rizvi Reprint | | Print |

Haider Rizvi

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 27 2002 (IPS) - The U.S. administration’s latest move to restrict the supply of humanitarian goods to Iraq may cause a split in the Security Council, which is to decide next week the future of Iraq’s “Oil for Food” programme, observers and diplomats here say.
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