DATE=05/16/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09886

TITLE=EDITORIAL: IRAQ SANCTIONS REVISED

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: On May 14th, the United Nations Security Council adopted a new export control system for Iraq. This system will help the Iraqi people by effectively lifting U-N controls on civilian goods to the Iraqi people, while maintaining critical U-N controls designed to prevent Iraq from rearming.

Iraq has been subject to U-N sanctions since its brutal aggression against Kuwait in 1990. In 1991, a United States-led coalition liberated Kuwait. But the U-N Security Council determined that Iraq still posed a serious threat to its neighbors. In 1991, the council decided to maintain the sanctions until Iraq had fulfilled all of its obligations under U-N Security Council resolutions, in particular that Iraq completely eliminate all programs to develop nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and ballistic missiles to deliver them.

More than a decade later, Iraq has still not complied with U-N resolutions. Indeed, for more than three years, the Saddam Hussein regime has not even allowed U-N weapons inspectors into the country.

The threat from Iraq is real, and the need for continued U-N controls on Iraq is clear. As President George W. Bush said, "Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens."

To ease the impact of the sanctions on the Iraqi people, the U-N Security Council adopted a program in 1995 to allow Iraq to export oil and use the bulk of the proceeds to pay for imports of humanitarian goods. After delaying for nearly two years, Saddam Hussein implemented this "oil for food" program in 1997. But even then, he has undermined the humanitarian program by seeking to obtain military items and diverting items purchased under Oil-for-Food to the Iraqi military and favored groups. These actions by Saddam Hussein have caused the Iraqi people immense suffering.

Under the new U-N export control system, Iraq will still be barred from importing any weapons, military supplies, and the means to produce them. Items with both civilian and military uses will require closer scrutiny by U-N Security Council members. But controls on purely civilian goods have been lifted.

As the May 14th vote makes clear, the U-N Security Council is determined to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people while preventing the Saddam Hussein regime from rearming. The U.S. will work with the other members of the U-N Security Council to contain the threat that Iraq will continue to pose until a representative government comes to power in Baghdad that is willing to live in peace with the Iraqi people and with Iraq's neighbors.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.