*EPF405 12/05/2002
Iraqi Oil-For-Food Program Renewed
(U.S. determined to add military items to review list, envoy says) (450)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- The Security Council December 4 unanimously agreed to extend the oil-for-food humanitarian aid program for Iraq until May 2003.

Adopting the resolution just hours before it was to expire, the Security Council also agreed to a United States demand that it consider "necessary adjustments" to the so-called Goods Review List which contains items that need the approval of the Security Council Sanctions Committee before they can be imported into Iraq.

Under the oil-for-food program, which began in 1996, Iraq is allowed to sell oil under U.N. supervision and use a portion of the proceeds to buy food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods for Iraqi civilians. Under the current system all humanitarian items not covered by U.N. sanctions do not need sanctions committee approval. So-called dual-use items which could be used for military purposes are placed on the Goods Review List and need committee approval before Iraq can purchase them.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said during the negotiations on the resolution that "the United States objective has been very clear: to continue the humanitarian program to meet the needs of the Iraqi civilians, while strengthening the Goods Review List and its procedures to ensure that Baghdad does not manipulate the program to increase its support for conventional military or weapons of mass destruction programs."

Speaking with journalists after the vote, Negroponte said that changes to the Goods Review List are urgently needed. The importance the U.S. attaches to the issue "should not be underestimated," he said.

Negroponte and other U.S. officials have said that they want about 50 items added to the list including atropine, which can be used as an antidote to nerve gas, and global position system jammers.

"It is imperative that Iraq not be able to take advantage of loopholes or omissions in the [Goods Review List] to acquire items that strengthen its conventional and weapons of mass destruction capabilities. ... We are determined to move swiftly together with our colleagues to implement this evening's decision," the ambassador said.

"We shouldn't underestimate the United States determination to accomplish changes in this list," said Negroponte, who is the chief U.S. envoy to the U.N.

Negroponte said that the changes in the list sought by Washington are not directly related to the weapons inspections now underway in Iraq.

In the resolution, the council also asked Secretary General Kofi Annan to report on the Goods Review List and on whether Iraq has ensured the equitable distribution of medicine, health supplies, foodstuffs, and other materials essential for civilian needs.

Since the program began, over $25,000 million worth of food, medicine and equipment have been delivered to Iraq, including $1,600 million worth of parts and equipment for Iraq's oil industry. Another $10,500 million in supplies are currently in the delivery pipeline.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents