>From: Mark Clement <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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>
>IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 111
>Thursday August 24, 2000
>
>
>PLEASE NOTE THE MARIAM APPEAL HAS MOVED.
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>
>Russia suggests easing Iraq's reparations
>
>UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Russia has floated a proposal to reduce
>from 30 percent to 20 percent the proportion of the proceeds from Iraq's
>"oil-for-food" sales earmarked for reparations stemming from its 1990
>invasion of Kuwait, Security Council sources said on Wednesday.
>
>Russian U.N. envoy Sergei Lavrov was also said to have urged, during
>closed-door council consultations, a review by the council of the operations
>of the Geneva-based U.N. Compensation Commission, which reviews and pays out
>claims for reparations.
>Under the U.N. "oil-for-food program" that began in December 1996 Baghdad is
>allowed to sell unlimited quantities of oil to buy food, medicine and other
>civilian necessities to help offset the effects on ordinary Iraqis of
>sanctions imposed after its invasion of Kuwait.
>Since the start of the programme, 30 percent of the proceeds from the sale
>of Iraqi oil is automatically siphoned off into the U.N.-administered
>reparations fund.
>
>Lesser amounts are used to administer the "oil-for-food program" and to meet
>other costs related to the Gulf war. This includes scrapping Baghdad's
>weapons of mass destruction, though U.N. arms inspectors have been barred
>from Iraq for nearly two years.
>The council sources said Lavrov raised the reparations issue informally in
>challenging a $21.5 billion claim by Kuwait for lost oil production and
>sales during Iraq's invasion and seven-month occupation of the emirate.
>
>If the percentage of Iraqi oil proceeds earmarked for reparations was ever
>reduced to 20 percent, the difference would presumably become available to
>buy more food and other civilian supplies for the benefit of Iraqi
>civilians.
>
>Russian and French representatives in Geneva have held up a decision by the
>Compensation Commission on the Kuwaiti claim, on which a panel of
>arbitrators has recommended awarding $15.9 billion.
>
>Kuwait's claim will be considered again when the commission's governing
>council, which has the same 15-nation membership as the Security Council,
>next meets in Geneva from Sept 26 to 28.
>The council sources said Russia's move for a review of the operations of the
>Compensation Commission was supported by France, China, Ukraine and Tunisia.
>
>The United States, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands were said to have
>argued that the Security Council should not pronounce on specific
>reparations claims, which should be left to the technical body - the
>Compensation Commission - established for that purpose.
>Russia's moves on the reparations issue represents another front in a
>campaign aimed at easing curbs placed on Iraq since its attack on Kuwait.
>
>Russia, together with China and France, has been pressing for the easing of
>sanctions in force for the past 10 years. It also campaigns vigorously
>against "no-fly zones" patrolled by United States and British warplanes to
>prevent the Iraqi army from attacking Kurdish dissidents in northern Iraq
>and Shiite dissidents in the south.
>
>
>Iraq will not accept new U.N. weapons team.
>By Huda Majeed Saleh
>BAGHDAD, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Iraq said on Wednesday it would not accept the
>new United Nations arms inspection team established under a Security Council
>resolution last December.
>"Clearly speaking Iraq does not deal with resolution 1284," Deputy Prime
>Minister Tareq Aziz told reporters and members of parliament. "Hans Blix and
>his commission is a result of this resolution which Iraq does not deal with.
>
>"When Iraq does not deal with the resolution and its results this means that
>Iraq will not receive any person who has a relation with the resolution and
>its results."
>Security Council resolution 1284 adopted in December offers to ease
>longstanding trade sanctions on Iraq if it allows U.N. weapons inspectors
>empowered to dismantle Iraq's weapons of mass destruction to return to
>Baghdad.
>
>The resolution set up a new arms inspection body called the United Nations
>Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to replace the
>former U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM).
>
>Aziz said Iraq could not be intimidated on the issue. "We are accustomed to
>threats and Iraq is ready to face all challenges in defence of its
>sovereignty and legitimate rights," he said.
>In Washington, a senior State Department official said Iraq was free to
>reject the new inspection system but would then have to live with the
>continuation of sanctions.
>
>"If Iraq wants to take this opportunity, then it can. If not, they will be
>stuck in the same situation they are in now," said the official, who asked
>not to be named.
>
>He said that since Iraq receives food and medicines through the U.N.
>food-for-oil programme, and since no one is thinking of resuming arms sales
>to Iraq, Iraqi compliance with the system would give it access mainly to
>dual-use goods - goods which have both civilian and military applications.
>
>"One of the ways for us to be able to issue a license for dual-use goods is
>to have inspectors go in and inspect their facilities ... It's not our
>problem. It's up to them to take the opportunity but they shouldn't complain
>about the sanctions while not allowing inspectors in," he added.
>
>The United Nations is to train a new arms inspection team for duty in Iraq,
>but a U.N. weapons spokesman said on Tuesday it was uncertain when it would
>be sent to Baghdad.
>
>Diplomats say resumption of arms inspections appears to depend on President
>Saddam Hussein and on how much pressure a divided Security Council is
>willing to put on him.
>
>U.N. experts seeking to track down and destroy Baghdad's weapons of mass
>destruction were withdrawn in December 1998 shortly before the United States
>and Britain launched a four-day bombing campaign prompted by Iraq's failure
>to cooperate with the arms team.
>
>The former U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) in charge of scrapping Iraq's
>clandestine arsenals, which came under fierce criticism from Baghdad's
>supporters on the Security Council, especially Russia, China and France, has
>since been replaced by UNMOVIC.
>
>
>Turkish politicians reportedly condemn civilian casualties in north Iraq
>raid.
>Excerpts from report by Mehmet Ozgul, "The vile attack has been condemned",
>carried by the German-based Kurdish newspaper 'Ozgur Politika' web site on
>21st August
>
>FP [Virtue Party] deputy leader Bahri Zengin referred to the massacre which
>was conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces aircraft against south Kurdistan
>[north Iraq] resulting in the death of 45 people and noted that "passive
>resistance" was needed in the face of this attack. DYP [True Path Party]
>deputy leader M. Ali Yavuz, in turn, stressed that an attack against the
>civilian population was unacceptable.
>
>Nizamettin Sozen, Batman Democracy platform spokesman and Petrol-Is
>chairman, Ali Dogan, Haci Bektasi Veli Anatolian Foundation chairman, and
>IHD [Human Rights Association] Istanbul branch chairman Eren Keskin, called
>upon the Turkish and the international public opinions as well as the press
>to show sensitivity and note that they would display their reactions in the
>following days...
>
>FP deputy leader Bahri Zengin: No one approves of killing civilians. Those
>who do not approve have to be strong, however. The world is under the
>hegemony of Western values. The West is making use of human rights and
>freedoms for their imperial aims. This problem may be resolved through
>persuasion.
>
>If persuasion is not successful, the only thing we can do is use passive
>resistance. Even if they face major pressures, the people should insist on
>what they believe. The oligarchic system should change. This is of utmost
>importance. It is impossible to protect the rights of the people in the
>oligarchic system...
>
>DYP deputy leader Mehmet Ali Yavuz: No one can accept attacks that are
>launched against the civilian population. If the attack was launched against
>the terrorists, this is a different issue. Such things may happen. If the
>attack is launched against innocent civilians, however, this constitutes a
>grave mistake.
>
>
>Deputy premier receives Russian oil delegation.
>Source: Republic of Iraq Radio, Baghdad, in Arabic 1400 gmt 21 Aug 00
>Text of report by Iraqi radio on 21st August
>Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has received Russian Deputy Oil Minister
>Petr Nidzelskiy and his delegation. Aziz expressed satisfaction with the
>level of relations with Russia and the Iraqi leadership's desire to develop
>them in all fields in the interest of the two friendly countries and
>peoples. The two sides discussed fields of oil cooperation between the two
>countries and means of developing them.
>
>Nidzelskiy underlined the Russian leadership's eagerness to activate and
>expand cooperation with Iraq in all fields. He expressed satisfaction with
>the oil talks he held with Iraqi officials, saying a people led by President
>Saddam Husayn and the leadership in Iraq will certainly achieve victory. He
>explained that Iraq's victory is a victory for Russia. The meeting was
>attended by Oil Ministry Undersecretary Fa'iz Shahin.
>
>
>Iraqi Oil Exports Rise.
>Iraqi oil exports rose by 470,000 barrels per day to 2.5 million b/d for the
>week ended Friday, the UN said Monday.
>Iraq, with a four-week average of 2.31 million b/d, is near the 2.4 million
>b/d monthly average it achieved in late May. Oil industry experts say Iraq's
>sustainable export rate is about 2.4 million to 2.5 million b/d.
>
>The average price of a barrel of Iraqi crude, which tracks world benchmarks
>that have also been rising, was up $1.31 to $25.82/bbl on the week.
>
>The UN approved two more oil contracts, which brings to 382.88 million
>barrels the amount Iraq contracted to ship in the eighth phase, which runs
>to Dec. 5.
>
>Iraq must export an average of about 2.22 million b/d of oil to meet its
>eighth-phase contract commitments.
>(c) Copyright 2000. The Oil Daily Co
>
>
>Investigative Edge - How Much of a Threat is Saddam Hussein?
>By Paula Zahn.
>THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE
>UPDATED.
>ZAHN: And welcome back. On the "Investigative Edge" tonight, how much of a
>threat is Saddam Hussein and how close is he to developing nuclear weapons?
>Ten years after the Gulf War, the United Nations is putting together a new
>team of weapons inspectors who will be ready to enter Iraq within weeks.
>Will Saddam Hussein cooperate? And if he does, what will the inspectors find
>there?
>Ambassador Richard Butler, former chairman of the U.N. Special Commission
>says Saddam is back in full throttle manufacturing weapons of mass
>destruction and is as big a threat now as he ever was. But his former chief
>weapons inspector Scott Ritter couldn't disagree more. We're going to hear
>from Ambassador Butler in a few minutes but first, joining us now from FOX
>CENTRAL is Scott Ritter.
>
>Welcome back to THE EDGE. So how close is Saddam Hussein to manufacturing
>weapons of mass destruction?
>SCOTT RITTER, FORMER UNSCOM INSPECTOR: Well, he's not close at all. You
>know, Iraq has been subjected to a very comprehensive economic embargo since
>1991 and was subjected to 7 1/2 years of disarmament inspections by United
>Nations weapons inspectors who effectively disarmed Iraq and monitored their
>weapons production capability. So Iraq's capability had been brought down to
>as close to zero as it can be and they don't have the wherewithal to
>produce. Even though we don't have weapons inspectors in Iraq today, any
>scientific and technologically oriented analysis of the situation can only
>come to one conclusion: There are no weapons.
>ZAHN: OK. Explain this to me. Two years ago, you felt quite different. You
>were the one telling us you were very concerned about Saddam Hussein being
>able to create a nuclear bomb. What - is that what you say has happened in
>the last two years?
>RITTER: No. What's happened - first of all, when I spoke - when I resigned,
>I resigned as a weapons inspector who was tasked with one hundred percent
>disarmament, what I call quantitative disarmament. We didn't have the
>wherewithal to deviate one iota from this. We couldn't make judgments. Iraq
>had to give up 100 percent of its capabilities and as a weapons inspector, I
>was tasked and others were tasked with hunting these down. We weren't
>allowed to do our job primarily by the United States who interfered with our
>work. And that's why I resigned.
>ZAHN: Let me ask you this. You more recently have been filming a documentary
>on Iraq and its weapons capabilities, and yet you didn't visit suspected
>weapon sites. Why not?
>RITTER: Well, it's a complicated issue. If I went to a weapons site, on the
>one hand, I could be used as a propaganda tool by the Iraqis who say, "Hey,
>look, former weapons inspector Scott Ritter went to the site. He found
>nothing. See, we have a clean bill of health." I didn't go as an inspector,
>I went as a journalist. Two, if I had gone in and filmed the site and found
>nothing, the United States and others could report, "Yeah, but see, the
>Iraqis let him in because they had already evacuated the site. Ritter's just
>being used as a tool of Iraqi propaganda." It was a tricky situation. I was
>there to do an objective report, not to be used by anybody.
>ZAHN: But you know as well as I do that criticism is now coming from
>journalistic quarters, people saying now that you've written this story in
>"Arms Control Weekly" and that you've received your information about Iraq
>from top Iraqi officials, yet you fail to say where you met them, when you
>met them, exactly who you met with.
>RITTER: Oh, no, I've not failed to say it. Someone's just got to ask me the
>question.
>ZAHN: OK, do you want to tell me who's giving you your information?
>RITTER: Well, first of all, the vast majority of my information that I use
>in making this assessment comes from my experience as a weapons inspector.
>It comes from literally thousands of documents that were put together during
>the course of my seven years. Since that time, all the Iraqis have done is
>talk about political issues. I've met with the deputy ambassador here in New
>York, and while in Iraq, I met with Tariq Aziz and Amir Rashid (ph), the oil
>minister, and Amar al Sadi (ph), the scientific advisor to Saddam Hussein.
>ZAHN: And are those the Iraqi officials that you're comfortable with who
>claim they have - they do not have these weapons?
>RITTER: Well, these are...
>ZAHN: You buy what they say?
>RITTER: These are knowledgeable Iraqi officials. I don't buy what they say,
>I buy my own assessment of the situation, which is based upon my
>considerable experience as a weapons inspector. I can safely say that Iraq
>had been qualitatively disarmed, they pose no meaningful threat to anybody
>today, and they don't have ongoing weapons of mass destruction production
>capability contrary to what Richard Butler says.
>ZAHN: Your former colleagues at the UN suggest you're being manipulated by
>Saddam Hussein in some way. What are you getting out of this?
>RITTER: Look, first of all, who? Who's saying this because I'd like to know?
>Let's put a name to this accusation. I don't get manipulated by anybody. You
>know, I didn't get manipulated by the United States when I was a weapons
>inspector and I for darn sure am not going to allow myself to be manipulated
>by the Iraqis or anybody else as I pursue what I call policy of truth.
>ZAHN: All right, Scott, we're going to give Ambassador Butler a chance to
>refute what you've said point by point, but as always, it's good to have you
>with us. We appreciate your dropping by THE EDGE tonight.
>RITTER: Thank you.
>ZAHN: Coming up next, Ambassador Richard Butler disagrees, like I just said,
>with Scott's assessment. He's going to tell us why. And a little bit later
>on, is America a nation of peeping Toms? Could that explain the incredible
>success of "Survivor"? Find out. We'll be right back.
>(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
>(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
>PAT BUCHANAN [REF.N], PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But who has killed more
>innocent Iraqis? Saddam Hussein or UN sanctions?
>
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