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Iraq demands extra money |
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June 13, 2000
BAGHDAD, JUNE 12 (AP) - Iraq asked the United Nations on Sunday to allocate dlrs 400 million from the surplus in an escrow account to purchase humanitarian supplies for Iraqi people instead of freezing it in the bank.
The demand came in a letter from Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, carried by the official Iraqi News Agency.
"Figures mention that extra money was accumulated at the U.N.," said al-Sahhaf in his letter. "I call upon you to transfer these funds to buy humanitarian supplies for Iraqis instead of keeping them useless in the escrow account."
The oil-for-food program allows Iraq to circumvent U.N. economic sanctions and sell oil under U.N. supervision. However, the money earned has to be deposited in an escrow account in a French bank and can only be used to buy food and humanitarian goods after every contract has been approved by the U.N. sanctions committee.
On Saturday, Deputy Agriculture Minister Basil al-Dalali said over dlrs 7 billion is frozen in the account.
In a statement issued May 30, the U.N Iraqi Program's Office estimated that 1,185 contracts worth dlrs 1.68 billion are being held by the sanctions committee. Sanctions were imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Al-Sahhaf blamed the U.S. and British representatives for the contract delays.
"They approve a contract for a machine, putting on hold another contract for parts needed to make the machine work," said al-Sahhaf in his letter.
He asked Annan to apply pressure on the United States and Britain to "stop this abnormal situation."
"These governments must understand that their criminal policy toward Iraq, which is causing the death of many children, women and elderly, shall bring shame to them in the present and the future." |