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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Nov 2000

Vol. 527 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sanctions against Iraq.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

59 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland, through the United Nations, will seek a lifting of the sanctions on Iraq in order that they will be confined to those affecting the officials of the regime and to restricting their access to arms and weapons. [27874/00]

The suffering of the people of Iraq, especially children, and the problems in implementing the United Nations humanitarian programmes in Iraq continue to be of deep concern to the Government. We have held discussions with the various parties at the UN and would hope that further progress will have been made on this issue by the time that we take our seat on the Security Council in January. As a member of the council, we will be considering the situation in Iraq both in the light of developments and also in line with Government policy. Ireland stands by its obligation under the UN Charter to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.

We have consistently raised within the United Nations, and the EU, the urgent need to improve the conditions of the general population in Iraq. The Security Council clearly needs to take full account of the grave humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people in its further consideration of the sanctions issue. Our policy has been to advocate greater reductions in the number of refusals and delays by the sanctions committee in clearing supplies contracted under the oil for food programme. The Taoiseach and I raised this issue with the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, in Washington in March, and urged the United States, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to seek to reduce the delays on needed medicines and spare parts for infrastructure.

The EU, in a common statement at an open debate of the Security Council in April on the question of sanctions in general, made clear our view that sanctions should be carefully defined and focused and should minimise the negative humanitarian impact on the general population and particularly the most vulnerable sectors. The Council also discussed the streamlining of procedures for approving humanitarian exemptions, as well as a study on how to avoid negative collateral effects of sanctions on third countries. These are important elements which have guided our considerations on continuing UN sanctions programmes.

In response to widespread international concern, the Security Council, acting under the provisions of Resolution 1284, has unconditionally removed the ceiling on the export of oil to fund the purchase of humanitarian supplies.

The Council has also introduced an accelerated procedure for the approval of humanitarian supplies, in operation since the beginning of March. Under this streamlined procedure some two billion dollars worth of contracts for food, education, medical, agricultural, water and sanitation sectors have been approved on a basis of notification of the Council. The Council also agreed to make a greater allocation for spare parts for the ailing Iraqi oil industry, doubling this budget to $1.2 billion.
Nevertheless, the UN Secretary General in his report to the Council of 8 September expressed concern about the negative impact on the rehabilitation of Iraqi infrastructure of holds and delays by the sanctions committee in clearing supplies contracted under the oil for food programme.
The basis for the continued imposition of UN sanctions on Iraq remains the Iraqi Government's refusal to co-operate with the UN Commissions appointed to verify the dismantling of Iraq's programme to acquire weapons of mass destruction. I would call upon the Government of Iraq to comply with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council.
Security Council Resolution 1284 also provides for the suspension of sanctions in return for Iraqi co-operation with a new disarmament supervisory commission – UNMOVIC – and full compliance with all conditions imposed by the Security Council. We would wish to see the necessary co-operation from Baghdad to allow greater progress to be made on the suspension, and ultimate lifting, of sanctions. This would be a welcome and a major step towards the return of Iraq to full participation in the international community.
The Government has also addressed these humanitarian concerns directly. A £100,000 grant by Ireland Aid to the international committee of the Red Cross was agreed last month, to address the rehabilitation of health facilities in Iraq, as well as water and sanitation facilities.
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