IRAQ: IRAQI OIL MINISTER SAYS BAGHDAD EXPECT'S TO RESUME FOOD-FOR-OIL EXPORTS WITH U.N./SANTA DISTRIBUTES PRESENTS TO SICK CHILDREN

Record ID: 344768

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQI OIL MINISTER SAYS BAGHDAD EXPECT'S TO RESUME FOOD-FOR-OIL EXPORTS WITH U.N./SANTA DISTRIBUTES PRESENTS TO SICK CHILDREN
  • Date: 27th December 1997
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 27, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. WS/SV INTERIOR OF OIL MINISTERS MEETING (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. SV/SCU IRAQI OIL MINISTER AMIR MUHAMMAD RASHEED WELCOMING THE JORDANIAN DELEGATION, CONFIRMING COOPERATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND JORDAN, THAT DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL APPROVE THE DISTRIBUTION PLAN THEN IRAQ WILL RESUME EXPORTING ITS OIL (ARABIC) (2 SHOTS) 0.27 3. WS MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS TAKING NOTES 0.31 4. SCU JORDANIAN ENERGY MINISTER MOHAMMED al-HOURANI SAYING THAT THE WARM WELCOME HE HAS RECEIVED IS A GOOD SIGN OF OUR COOPERATION, THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENTS OF 1995, 1996 AND 1997 ARE GOOD EVIDENCE OF COOPERATION (ARABIC) 0.49 5. SV MINISTERS SEATED 0.53 6. SCU RASHEED SAYING THAT IRAQ HAS BEEN EXPORTING OIL AND HAS RECEIVED NO FOOD OR MEDICINE (ARABIC) 1.15 7. SV OFFICIAL TAKING NOTES 1.19 8. SV RASHEED SAYING TALKING ABOUT THE SANCTIONS (ARABIC) 1.31 9. TRACK MINISTERS WALKING TOGETHER FROM MEETING 1.39 10. PAN UP EXTERIOR OF SADDAM HUSSEIN HOSPITAL, IRAQI FLAG 1.46 11. SV SANTA CLAUS (FROM ICELANDIC CHARITY ORGANISATION) GIVING OUT PRESENTS TO CHILDREN 2.02 12. SV INTERIOR OF HOSPITAL, SANTA GIVING PRESENTS TO CHILD 2.11 13. VARIOUS INTERIOR, SANTA GIVING PRESENTS TO SICK CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL WARD (5 SHOTS) 2.57 14. ZOOM IN SICK CHILD ON BED WITH PRESENT 3.04 15. SCU SICK CHILDREN BEING COMFORTED 3.16 16. SV SANTA CLAUS SAYING "STOP KILLING MY CHILDREN, SANTA CLAUS SAY THIS, STOP KILLING MY CHILDREN" (ENGLISH) 3.26 17. SV/CU MOTHER WITH CHILD, WEEPING, SAYING PLEASE LET THEM FIND A SOLUTION. CHILDREN ARE DYING BY THOUSANDS DAILY. WE HOPE THEY LIFT THE EMBARGO FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN (ARABIC) (2 SHOTS) 3.43 18. SV CHARITY FOUNDER THOR MAGNUSSON SAYING THE UNITED STATES SHOULD START PLAYING A HUMANITARIAN GAME, STOP THE SANCTIONS (ENGLISH) 3.55 19. SLV SANTA WITH CHILDREN 4.06 20. VARIOUS EXTERIOR, CHILDREN AND ADULTS ARGUING, GRABBING FOR PRESENTS AND SWEETS REMAINING IN BACK OF CHARITY VAN (3 SHOTS) 4.24 Initials S3,P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 11th January 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • City:
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVABTUSEE4PBC283S2B5OVV23R0T
  • Story Text: INTRO: Iraq's oil minister Amir Muhammad Rasheed says he expects his country to resume oil exports under its oil-for-food deal with the U.N. within a week.

    Speaking after talks with Jordan's energy minister Mohammed al-Hourani on Saturday (December 27), Rasheed said Iraq's aid distribution plan was sent two days ago to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for approval.

    The oil pact, which went into effect a year ago, allows Iraq to export 2 billion U.S. dollars worth of oil over six months to buy food, medicine and other essentials for Iraqis, suffering under sanctions imposed after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

    The second phase of the accord ended on December 5 and the U.N.

    Security Council renewed the deal for another six months earlier this month.

    Rasheed said Iraq would give priority in signing oil contracts for the third phase of the deal to friendly countries and companies.

    France, Russia and China are likely to benefit most since each has advocated an end to the sanctions. They are also owed billions of dollars by Iraq for contracts with Baghdad before the 1991 Gulf War.

    Later in the day Iraqi officials invited the media to one of Baghdad's hospitals, where members of the Icelandic charity organisation Peace 2000 gave out presents to sick children.

    One of the charity workers, dressed as Santa Claus, greeted and comforted the children, telling the assembled Western television crews that the world should "Stop killing my children." Charity founder Thor Magnusson blamed the United States for the situation, saying the sanctions should be ended immediately.

    Magnusson says his humanitarian organisation was founded in 1995 by more than 500 individuals and 100 societies from around the world.


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