DATE=12/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N APPROVES IRAQ MEASURE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257259
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The United Nations Security Council today 
(Friday) approved a long-awaited resolution that could 
result in the lifting of economic sanctions against 
Iraq.  But as VOA correspondent Breck Ardery reports, 
the vote was not unanimous and there is serious doubt 
about whether Iraq will comply with the resolution. 

TEXT:  After almost a year of discussion, debate and 
delay, the Iraq resolution was approved with 11 votes 
in favor and three permanent members - China, France 
and Russia - abstaining, along with Malaysia. 

The resolution would lift economic sanctions against 
Iraq if it fully cooperates with a new U-N weapons 
inspections team for 120 consecutive days.  If, at any 
time, Iraq stops cooperating with the inspectors, the 
sanctions could be re-imposed.  But the nations that 
abstained in the vote argued the resolution is 
ambiguous because "cooperation" is subject to 
differing interpretations.  China alluded to the fact 
that Iraq has already stated it will not allow weapons 
inspectors back in the country, saying that without 
Iraqi cooperation, the resolution does not mean much. 
Iraq has refused to admit weapons inspectors since 
last December when Britain and the United States 
launched air strikes against Iraq.

Although Russia had some strong reservations about the 
resolution, it did not veto it. Speaking, through an 
English translator, Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov 
explained why. 

            /// LAVROV TRANSLATOR ACT ///

      Russia reserves its right to determine its 
      future position on this matter. But, at this 
      stage, what is important is, despite all the 
      disagreements on the draft resolution before us, 
      it was possible to avoid a split in the Security 
      Council which would have been fraught with 
      unilateral and possibly even actions of force. 
      And we have been able to confirm the key role of 
      the Council in the political settlement of the 
      most important problem of the world today.

            ///END ACT///

The U-S deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Peter 
Burleigh, took note of the four abstentions but said 
there are a few things to which all Council members 
agree. 

            /// BURLEIGH ACT ///

      The vote today was not unanimous; but no member 
      asserts that Iraq has met its obligations under 
      the Council's resolutions. No Council member 
      argues that Iraq has disarmed as required. No 
      Council member would say that Iraq has met its 
      obligations to Kuwait or to the families of the 
      missing. We expect all members of the Council, 
      regardless of their vote on this resolution, to 
      join in pressing Iraq for full and immediate 
      implementation.

            /// END ACT ///

The resolution provides one immediate benefit for 
Iraq. It lifts the ceiling on the amount of oil it can 
sell to raise money for food and other humanitarian 
supplies. Although the oil ceiling is lifted, Iraqi 
oil sales and purchases of supplies will remain under 
U-N supervision. (Signed)  

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL




17-Dec-1999 14:57 PM EDT (17-Dec-1999 1957 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.