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Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 15:08:22 -0600 Reply-To: "U.S. State Department" <<stategov@UIC.EDU> Sender: "Department of State, Senior Department Officials, Speeches/Testimonies" <<DOSSDO@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU> From: "U.S. State Department" <<stategov@UIC.EDU> Subject: 991203 Burleigh re: oil-for-food program Comments: To: dossdo@UIC.EDU To: DOSSDO@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU Status: U U.S. Department of State Ambassador A. Peter Burleigh Deputy Permanent Representative U.S. Mission to the United Nations "Oil-for-Food" Security Council December 3, 1999 Oil-for-Food Program The United States has a deep and enduring interest in the welfare of Iraqi citizens living under the regime of Saddam Hussein. We took a leading role in shaping the Oil-for-Food program from its original conception shortly after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. We note with satisfaction the documented success of this important humanitarian effort. Oil-for-Food is the largest humanitarian assistance effort in United Nations history, and it has brought about a significant improvement in living conditions for the civilian population throughout Iraq. As all of you know, normal United Nations operations are ongoing throughout Iraq. Despite the Iraqi government's unjustified recent decision to curtail authorized oil production and exports, large quantities of humanitarian supplies continue arriving in the country on a daily basis. There has been no disruption of humanitarian assistance under the Oil-for-Food program, and it is a matter of the utmost importance that the program continue without disruption. For that reason, we applaud the action the Council has taken today in acting to extend phase VI of the program for 7 days, through December 11. This resolution ensures that essential humanitarian assistance can continue while the Security Council prepares for adoption of a comprehensive resolution on Iraq next week. Adoption of that resolution, which includes many important provisions bearing on the next Oil-for-Food program, will clear the way for action on a full 6-month extension of the program a week from now. That resolution will represent the culmination of many months of work by the Council, and needs to be in place before we turn our attention to authorizing a full phase VII of Oil-for-Food. We also commend the leadership of the Office of the Iraq Program in managing the Oil-for-Food program, especially in light of the obstacles recently erected by the Iraqi regime. We call upon the government of Iraq to cease the cynical posturing we have seen over the past 2 weeks, to resume authorized oil production and exports without delay, and to cooperate fully with the program during the coming week and in the future. In closing, I could recall that the Oil-for-Food program, as established by the Council in Resolution 986, is a temporary measure. It was never intended to usurp the primary responsibility for meeting civilian needs in Iraq, which continues to reside with the government of that country. The United Nations has been compelled to take this temporary measure because of the blatant disregard which the Iraqi regime has demonstrated for the well-being of the Iraqi people. The United States will continue to support the uninterrupted continuation of this program as long as it remains necessary for the international community to address urgent civilian needs which the Iraqi government chooses to ignore. ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full archive and list instructions are available from the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi