DATE=10/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239788
TITLE= IRAQ / SANCTIONS / HALLIDAY
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE OUTGOING U-N HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ SAYS 
U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THAT COUNTRY ARE TRAGICALLY 
INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE U-N CHARTER.  DENIS HALLIDAY SAYS THE 
SANCTIONS ARE LEADING TO HUMAN SUFFERING, PARTICULARLY AMONG 
CHILDREN.  AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS MCDONOUGH REPORTS, MR. HALLIDAY 
ADDRESSED A CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON (TUESDAY).

TEXT:  DENIS HALLIDAY SAYS THE SANCTIONS CREATE A SITUATION FOR 
IRAQI CIVILIANS THAT UNDERMINES THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED 
NATIONS AS A BENIGN FORCE FOR PEACE AND HUMAN WELL-BEING 
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 

MR. HALLIDAY, WHO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION AS U-N 
HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ, SAYS THE EMBARGO HAS RAISED 
RATES OF MALNUTRITION, DISEASE, AND INFANT MORTALITY.  MOREOVER, 
HE SAYS THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE  NOT  WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A
MORE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

                      //  HALLIDAY ACT  //

         THOSE WHO ARE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIVING 
         UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT HAVE AN INCLINATION OR 
         TIME TO FOCUS ON GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS.  THEY ARE FOCUSED 
         ON EMPLOYMENT -- TWO JOBS, PERHAPS THREE -- GETTING FOOD
         ON THE TABLE, OF MAKING ENDS MEET, HAVING THEIR FAMILIES
         STAY HEALTHY, EDUCATED, AND IT IS SHEER SURVIVAL.  
         SANCTIONS ARE IN NO WAY, IN MY VIEW, CONTRIBUTING TO ANY
         CHANGE, ANY POSITIVE CHANGE TO A PARTICIPATORY 
         GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM.

                    //  END HALLIDAY ACT  //

MR. HALLIDAY SAYS THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF IRAQIS IS GROWING UP 
IN ISOLATION, ALIENATED FROM THE WEST.  HE SAYS RATHER THAN 
TURNING TOWARD DEMOCRACY, YOUNG IRAQIS ARE BECOMING MORE EXTREME 
IN THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS.  HE SAYS THEY ARE BECOMING IMPATIENT 
WITH THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP FOR COMPROMISING WITH THE WEST, WHILE
ENDURING EIGHT-YEARS OF SANCTIONS.

THE 34-YEAR U-N VETERAN SAYS IRAQ'S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALMOST 
TOTALLY DESTROYED DURING THE 1991 PERSIAN GULF WAR.  HE SAYS 
DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ CAN EMERGE ONLY AFTER SOME DEGREE OF ECONOMIC 
AND SOCIAL RECOVERY.

NUTRITION EXPERT PETER PELLETT TOLD THE HOUSE BRIEFING THE 
ECONOMIC EMBARGO -- DESPITE A PROGRAM ALLOWING LIMITED IRAQI OIL 
SALES TO PURCHASE FOOD -- HAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED FOOD 
AVAILABILITY, NUTRITION, AND HEATH, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.  

MR. PELLETT HAS DIRECTED TWO STUDIES ON IRAQ FOR THE U-N FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION.  HE DISMISSED ARGUMENTS THAT THESE 
"SIDE EFFECTS" ARE UNINTENTIONAL OR CAUSED SOLELY BY IRAQI LEADER
SADDAM HUSSEIN.

                       //  PELLETT ACT  //

         THE FACTS ARE THAT AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO IS INTENDED TO 
         HURT ... AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO IS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE 
         DEPRIVATION AND POVERTY -- THAT IS WHAT IT IS THERE FOR!
         AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT SURPRISING IN ANY WAY THAT IT 
         PRODUCES WIDESPREAD MALNUTRITION AND INCREASED 
         MORTALITY.

                         /// END ACT ///

CONGRESSMAN JOHN CONYERS URGED THE UNITED NATIONS TO END THE 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND TIGHTEN MILITARY ONES, INCLUDING ARMS 
INSPECTIONS.  THE DEMOCRAT LAWMAKER AND MORE THAN 40 OTHER HOUSE 
MEMBERS SENT A LETTER (TUESDAY) TO PRESIDENT CLINTON URGING HIM 
TO RE-EVALUATE U-S POLICY AND DE-LINK THE MILITARY AND ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/CEM/RAE

06-Oct-98 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.