MEDICAL ASSOCIATION for PREVENTION of WAR
Media Release
11 April 2000
Downer should act to stop genocide in Iraq
The Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) has today expressed
disappointment at the attitude of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and
Trade, The Hon Alexander Downer, on the issue of the deadly impact of
economic sanctions on the civilians of Iraq.
The Minister met yesterday with MAPW and Mr Denis Halliday, former Assistant
General-Secretary to the UN and Head of the UN Oil-for-Food program, to
discuss the impact of the economic sanctions and Australia's approach to the
issue. Halliday resigned in November 1998 in protest at the effect of the
sanctions.
"The Minister did not treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves. On
genocide in Iraq the Australian Government has lost the moral leadership by
not acting. There was absolutely no indication that the Minister would
contemplate an independent stance on the sanctions on Iraq, despite the
clear and overwhelming evidence that the sanctions are killing innocent
people and especially the children of Iraq," said Mr Halliday.
UNICEF estimates that the sanctions have been responsible for the deaths of
well over a million people, over half of them children, since the sanctions
began in 1990.
Denis Halliday says that there are some simple things that Australia can do
to meet both international security and humanitarian objectives. "Press
Washington to lift sanctions while retaining military inspections" he said.
"Australia should re-open its diplomatic offices in Baghdad to re-establish
dialogue and achieve a real assessment of the existing situation with regard
to sanctions and international security".
"Any objective review of the evidence would conclude that the negative human
impact of the sanctions on Iraq far outweighs any strategic gains for the
countries of the UN who are imposing them" Mr Halliday said.
For further information contact: Clare Henderson on (02) 6262 9345 or 0419
266 110.
We can provide a four page briefing paper on request -- numbers above or
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