DATE=11/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ OIL / SANCTIONS (L)
NUMBER=2-256473
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The government of Iraq has decided to stop 
exporting oil to underscore its rejection of the 
recently extended U-N oil-for-food program.  Iraqi 
officials say the oil would stop as soon as the last 
tankers are loaded at the southern port of Mina al-
Bakr.  Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our 
Middle East Bureau.

TEXT:  Iraq decided to curtail its participation in 
the oil-for-food program to protest the unwillingness 
of the U-N Security Council to end economic sanctions 
that have been in place since before the Gulf War.

Senior Iraqi officials said Iraq is completing its 
commitments, but indicated further cooperation with 
the program was in doubt.

Iraqi Oil Minister Amer Mohamed Rasheed called a stop-
gap extension of the program an attempt by the U-S 
government to blackmail other Security Council members 
into maintaining the sanctions indefinitely.

The latest phase of the oil-for-food program expired 
three-days ago, but the Security Council extended it 
for two-weeks as it seeks agreement on a new plan.  
Most members want to ease the sanctions, but they 
disagree on whether to continue to link them to a 
resumption of Iraqi weapons monitoring.  Iraq rejects 
any new weapons monitoring, saying it has eliminated 
all its weapons of mass destruction.

Iraqi newspapers called a draft compromise before the 
Security Council the equivalent of a declaration of 
war.  The "al-Iraq" newspaper said Iraq cannot accept 
a continuation of the sanctions.

U-N officials say two-billion dollars worth of 
supplies have yet to be delivered under the latest 
phase of the oil-for-food program and another two-
billion-dollars has yet to be spent.  As a result, 
they say they do not plan to end the humanitarian 
mission to Iraq.

Although U-N weapons monitors were withdrawn nearly 
one-year ago, hundreds of members of the U-N 
humanitarian program continue to work in Iraq in a 
sometimes uneasy relationship with the government.  
The Iraqi government has not indicated it intends to 
end the U-N humanitarian mission.  But observers say 
an extended rejection of the oil-for-food program that 
finances the mission could have serious effects in the 
months to come.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH/RAE



23-Nov-1999 11:05 AM EDT (23-Nov-1999 1605 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.