Iraq signed an agreement with the United Nations on Monday renewing the "oil-for-food" program into what is likely to be its final six-month phase before radical reforms come into force.
The UN spokesman, Fred Eckhard, said the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding for the phase, which began at midnight Friday after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to renew the program to May 30, 2002. If previous practice is followed, Iraq will submit a detailed plan later this month for distributing goods imported with UN approval for 10 economic sectors ranging from food and health to oil industry spare parts.
On the weekend, Iraq accepted the extension of the program, but said it had failed to improve the situation of its people. At the same time, Baghdad rejected proposed reforms which diplomats here said would end the 11-year-old embargo on civilian trade and allow Iraq to freely import non-military items. — (AFP, United Nations)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
