*EPF113 05/06/2002
Excerpt: Security Council Expected to Change Iraq Oil-for-Food Program
(If Iraq cooperates, more humanitarian goods should reach the population) (730)

Department of State Spokesman Richard Boucher announced May 6 that there is a strong consensus among the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to support a new system of export controls on Iraq as part of the oil-for-food program. The new system would lift U.N. controls on humanitarian and civilian goods purchased with Iraq oil revenue and focus controls on items intended for Iraqi military use.

The oil-for-food program began in 1996 to help ordinary Iraqis cope with sanctions imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. It initially provided for the importation of food and basic humanitarian goods but has expanded to cover public services such as education and water supply. Funded by oil sales, the program has become the mainstay of the Iraqi civilian economy.

Noting "a strong consensus has emerged for charting a new system," Boucher told reporters at the regular press briefing that the full Security Council will consider a resolution implementing the new controls later in the week.

"This change should further improve the flow of humanitarian and civilian goods to the Iraqi people. Of course it will only work if the Iraqi regime begins to cooperate fully with the oil-for-food program rather than working to undermine it, and particularly by using its oil as a propaganda tool... The goal is to provide the money necessary and to have it spent on the needs of the Iraqi people, and unfortunately, the Iraqi government has repeatedly failed to do that," Boucher said.

Iraq's decision in April 2002 to suspend oil exports until Israeli troops withdraw from Palestinian areas resulted in an estimated loss of $1.3 billion for the U.N. humanitarian aid program in Iraq, according to the United Nations.

Following is an excerpt from the May 6 State Department briefing with comments on Iraq:

(begin excerpt)

MR. BOUCHER: The Permanent Members of the Security Council have joined in supporting a resolution that would adopt a new UN export control system on Iraq as part of the Oil-for-Food humanitarian program. The resolution was tabled this morning in the Security Council in New York. We expect the full Security Council to consider this resolution this week.

We believe a strong consensus has emerged for charting a new system that would constitute a step forward. It would lift UN controls on purely civilian goods, while focusing UN controls on preventing Iraq from acquiring militarily useful items to rearm itself with.

This change should further improve the flow of humanitarian and civilian goods to the Iraqi people. Of course it will only work if the Iraqi regime begins to cooperate fully with the Oil-for-Food program, rather than working to undermine it, in particular by using its oil as a propaganda tool, such as turning the flow off, or now on again, for purely political reasons.

The goal is to provide the money necessary and to have it spent on the needs of the Iraqi people, and unfortunately the Iraqi Government has repeatedly failed to do that.

QUESTION: When you say tabled, do you mean it was just presented for debate at some future point?

MR. BOUCHER: At a future point this week.

QUESTION: Obviously this week.

MR. BOUCHER: This week.

QUESTION: But what I'm trying to get it, they're not out talking about it right now?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't think there's debate on it right now. It's been put in the hopper, tabled as an official resolution, supported by all five Permanent Members, which of course has been a key element in all resolutions on this subject, where we have more strength and more influence over Iraq's behavior if we're all together. And we have brought that together now.

QUESTION: Do you have an evaluation of the visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister last week to the UN?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't really have an evaluation. We heard a briefing of the Security Council last Thursday or Friday afternoon from the Secretary General. I think it was Friday. And I guess I'd say once again he appears to have come and gone without saying yes, without saying, "Let the inspectors come in, we have nothing to hide," because we have to suppose they do have something to hide.

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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