U.N. opens door to change in Iraq sanctions

By Ronni Berke
CNN

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved an extension of the Iraq oil-for-food program Thursday, endorsing a U.S.-backed plan to modify the sanctions regime in six months.

Russia and the United States reached a compromise earlier this week that would implement by June 1 a "goods review list" specifying what weapons-related items should be banned from entering Iraq.

The United States and Britain have sought adoption of the list, along with other changes in the sanctions regime, since June.

After Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, the United Nations imposed blanket economic sanctions against Baghdad except for food and medicine.

Under the program Iraq can sell as much oil as it wants, but the proceeds go into a U.N. escrow account.

Baghdad can purchase goods with the escrow money, provided those goods are approved by the U.N. sanctions committee.

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The United States and Britain would like to revise the sanctions so that the committee no longer has to approve all the humanitarian goods going into Iraq; it would simply reject any item on the "goods review list."

The U.N. said this week that $4.3 billion worth of supplies are being blocked, or put "on hold," by the sanctions committee.

Iraq has criticized the committee, and in particular, the United States, for crippling its economy by stalling delivery of humanitarian goods.

By giving Baghdad more control over imports, the United States and Britain hope other countries will come around to their view that the Iraqi government is primarily responsible for the suffering of its people.

In return for its acceptance of the goods review list, Russia got the United States to agree to a "comprehensive settlement" of the sanctions issue -- a clarification of what it sees as ambiguities in previous resolutions.

Russia and Iraq would like the Security Council to spell out more clearly what Baghdad needs to do to suspend or lift sanctions permanently.

Iraq wants no change in the sanctions regime, short of ending it entirely.

There has been some support among other council members for the revised sanctions. But Russia, China and France, which have veto power, have not endorsed them.

One problem is a difference of opinion on what should be on the "goods review list." For example, some computers could be used for military purposes, others for education.

China, Russia and France have complained the U.S. list is too broad.

The council will have the next six months to hammer out a list acceptable to all members.