United States and UK representatives were encouraged by the initial response in the United Nations (UN) Security Council to a draft resolution for lifting sanctions against Iraq. Submitted Friday, the draft calls for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and the transfer of control of the country's oil revenues to the US and the UK.
Speaking to the press following his presentation of the resolution, US Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte said the reactions of other members of the Security Council "were quite constructive."
"I feel that most delegations saw this as charting a way forward," he said. "Certainly, they had some questions, many of a legal and technical nature. After all, this resolution does deal with some quite complicated and complex issues that, I think, are going to have to be addressed in greater depth."
The resolution stipulates that except for provisions related to the sale or supply of arms and related material, "all prohibitions related to trade with Iraq ... shall no longer apply," reported the Washington File.
"Export sales of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas from Iraq following the date of the adoption of this resolution shall be made consistent with prevailing international market practices, to be audited by independent public accountants reporting to the international advisory board ... all proceeds from such sales shall be deposited into the Iraqi Assistance Fund, until such time as a new Iraqi government is properly constituted and capable of discharging its responsibilities," reads the text of the draft resolution.
Some of the delegates raised concerns over the lifting of sanctions, and Negroponte said some observed that the draft resolution did not address the role that the UN Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would play in Iraq.
The document says the disbursement of funds from the Iraqi Assistance Fund will be "at the direction of the Authority, in consultation with the Iraqi interim authority," defining the "Authority" as the "occupying powers and ... others working now or in the future with them under unified command.”
The Iraqi Assistance Fund would have an international advisory board including representatives of the Secretary General, the International Monetary Fund, the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development and the World Bank.
According to the draft text, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would be asked to appoint a Special Coordinator for Iraq who would coordinate UN and international relief and reconstruction activities in the country with US and U.K. authorities.
Negroponte said that experts from Security Council member countries would meet May 12 to address questions that were raised and discuss any other matters before the Security Council meets at the ambassadorial level May 14 to further discuss the resolution. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
