The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Note: Months ago Powell said refrigerator pumps would be allowed under his proposal, now re-confirmed. Milan Rai Voices UK http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20010531/wl/powell_iraq_1.html Thursday May 31 11:18 AM ET U.S. Won't Push New Iraq Sanctions By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States, abandoning its attempt to win restructuring of U.N. sanctions against Iraq by a Monday deadline, pressed Thursday for a one-month extension of the current oil-for-food program rather than the full six months sought by Moscow and China. U.N. Security Council members are in ``general agreement'' that sanctions ``have lost some of their effectiveness,'' Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters as he flew home late Wednesday from a NATO meeting in Budapest. ``It is wise to move forward,'' he said, expressing optimism that agreement on a new sanctions package could be reached soon. Powell conferred with the foreign ministers of Russia, Britain and France during meetings on the sidelines the NATO gathering. As a result of those sessions, the United States decided to give up trying to win support for a U.S.-British plan for new sanctions before the current program expires Monday, said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Ambassadors from the Security Council's five permanent members, each of which has veto power - the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China - were meeting Thursday at U.N. headquarters to discuss a timeframe for the extension. A British diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were seeking a short-term extension of several weeks while Russia and China want a full six-month roll-over. The full Security Council was expected to meet later Thursday to take up the Iraq sanctions issue. ``The action is (now) back in New York,'' Powell said, referring to the Security Council talks. Under a deal agreed to by Powell, the current humanitarian oil-for-food program will be temporarily extended, primarily to give Russia a chance to scrutinize a proposed new list of banned items, said the senior administration official. The extension may nominally be for six months. But the U.S. official said the United States hoped the review could be completed in a month. The agreement to ``roll over'' the current program was an attempt to overcome a serious impasse on the Security Council, with the Monday deadline fast approaching. ... Final details of the proposed agreement came together during a Wednesday meeting between Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. ... The restructuring of sanctions is one of the Bush administration's first foreign policy initiatives. ... Other issues still remain to be decided, including how the embargo is to be enforced at border points and how to control smuggling. ``There are lots of variants,'' Powell said. The United States is compiling a list of items it wants banned, including certain technologies and communications equipment. Many items now banned, such as small diesel generators and refrigerator pumps, would be removed from the list. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk