DATE=12/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-IRAQ OIL (L ONLY) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-257048
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO: The United Nations Security Council today 
(Friday) extended for six months the oil-for-food 
program for Iraq. The action came as the council 
continued to consider a broader resolution intended to 
return U-N weapons inspectors to Iraq and suspend U-N 
sanctions if Iraq complies with the council's 
disarmament requirements. Correspondent Larry Freund 
reports from New York.

TEXT: The Security Council voted unanimously to extend 
what has come to be known as the oil-for-food program 
for a full six months. Under that program, Iraq is 
allowed to sell more than five billion dollars worth 
of oil every six months, with proceeds used for food, 
medicine and other humanitarian supplies. The program 
was started three years ago as an exception to the U-N 
sanctions established after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait 
in 1990.  The sanctions resolution remains in effect 
because U-N inspectors have not certified that Iraq is 
free of weapons of mass destruction and is not 
manufacturing them.

The Security Council's six-month extension of the oil-
for-food program followed two earlier extensions for 
two weeks and then one week which Iraq refused to 
accept and stopped shipping oil.

After approving the extension of the oil-for-food 
program, the Security Council continued consideration 
of a comprehensive resolution to create a new arms 
inspection program for Iraq.  U-N weapons inspectors 
left Iraq a year ago.

The resolution now being discussed has been under 
review for several months by the five permanent 
members of the Security Council.  Diplomats say the 
major problem has been finding agreement on the terms 
under which the sanctions against Iraq would be 
removed. 

But the deputy U-S ambassador to the United Nations, 
Peter Burleigh, told reporters talks are underway at 
what he called very high political levels.

            /// BURLEIGH ACTUALITY ///

      A consensus I think has developed on the council 
      to bring this to closure - close to a consensus, 
      anyway, to bring this to closure soon. And the 
      psychology of that is that it puts a lot of 
      pressure on all sides, because the question is, 
      does one compromise further on certain issues or 
      not. We are in intense high-level, difficult 
      negotiations right now.

            /// END ACTUALITY ///

The United States and Britain have pressed for 
language requiring Iraq's full cooperation with U-N 
weapons inspectors before most sanctions are lifted. 
But Russia prefers another, less demanding standard 
for compliance. (Signed)

NEB/NY/LSF/KL




10-Dec-1999 16:06 PM EDT (10-Dec-1999 2106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.