The UN Security Council is unlikely to refine its Iraqi sanctions regime when it extends the oil-for-food program this week, diplomats said after preliminary consultations on Monday, November 26.
In July, Russia blocked an attempt by the United States and Britain to replace the 11-year-old trade embargo on Iraq with so-called "smart sanctions" penalizing the government rather than ordinary Iraqi citizens.
The current phase of the oil-for-food program expires at midnight New York time on Friday (0400 GMT Saturday) and diplomats said the council was likely to extend it without major changes.
"We will probably have a draft resolution on Tuesday and could adopt it later in the week," one diplomat said. But he added that the program would not necessarily be extended for the customary period of six months. — (AFP, United Nations)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
