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Word from the Security Council is that the anticipated new resolution on Iraq, labelled by some as introducing "smart sanctions", has been almost agreed. The resolution provides for a straightforward rollover of the oil-for-food programme. There will no longer be 90-day reports from the Secretary-General on the operation of OFF, leaving only the 180-day reports and thus less opportunity for public scrutiny. The more significant change is the adoption of a "Goods Review List" (GRL) and procedures for its implementation, based upon the texts circulated in November 2001 and attached to SCR1382. The GRL is the list of items considered as potentially "dual use", and applications for their import into Iraq will be reviewed by the Sanctions Committee (661 committee). For items not on the GRL, the 661 Committee does not have the power to block contracts: therefore the resolution takes away some of its discretionary powers. The Secretary-General is asked to submit regular reviews to assess the implementation of the GRL and its procedures. In the short-term, the resolution will have no effect on the humanitarian situation in Iraq, as the escrow account is empty. Freeing up import restrictions has no effect if the money is not there to purchase the goods. In the longer term, no extra goods can enter Iraq that couldn't have been imported before; all the resolution does is lock the 661 committee out and reduce paperwork for exporters. The resolution can only be presented as a positive development if one accepts that the 661 committee has abused its discretion in the past. It's my understanding that the text of the resolution was agreed in late April, and the only item left under discussion is some technical details of the procedures for the implementation of the GRL. A few resources that may be of use in analysing the new resolution are CASI's guide to "smart sanctions": http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/guide/smartsanctions.html the text of SCR1382: http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2001/res1382e.pdf the largely unnoticed 150-page list included in 1382's draft GRL: http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/info/usletter011128.pdf and CASI's press release on SCR1382: http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/casi/briefing/prscr1382.html Glen. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk