IRAQ: UN HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD AT THE CENTRE OF SANCTIONS CONTROVERSY FOLLOWING RESIGNATION OF TWO KEY OFFICIALS

Record ID: 496408

  • Title: IRAQ: UN HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD AT THE CENTRE OF SANCTIONS CONTROVERSY FOLLOWING RESIGNATION OF TWO KEY OFFICIALS
  • Date: 15th February 2000
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 15, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: U.N. HEADQUARTERS (2 SHOTS) 0.07 2. SET UP SHOT OF HANS VON SPONECK, TOP U.N. OFFICIAL IN IRAQ 0.11 3. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) HANS VON SPONECK SAYING "A sanctions regime of the kind that is implemented here in Iraq is simply no longer tolerable, it is also against human rights." 0.20 4. C/A: PHOTOGRAPHER 0.23 5. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) HANS VON SPONECK "It is high time that the population in this country is allowed to return to a normal life." 0.32 BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 16, 2000) (REUTERS) 6. SV: JUTTA BURGHARDT COMING DOWN STEPS 0.38 7. SV: SOUNDBITE (English) JUTTA BURGHARDT SAYING "I have a problem to implement resolution one two eight four which was issued in December by the Security Council because the U.N. is supposed to implement it, is legally bound to implement it, but the Government is not cooperating on this resolution for their reasons." 1.00 8. C/A: VIDEO CAMERA 1.04 9. SV: SOUNDBITE (English) JUTTA BURGHARDT SAYING "I am supporting his position and I find that his statement that it is true human tragedy, what is happening here cannot be challenged by any body who has perceptive mind and heart." 1.19 10. BV: JUTTA BURGHARDT WALKING AWAY 1.25 11. VARIOUS OF LOADING FLOUR IN BAGHDAD (3 SHOTS) 1.46 12. VARIOUS: PEOPLE SHOPPING/ LEAVING SHOP (4 SHOTS) 1.59 13. TRACK: IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREQ AZIZ GETTING OUT OF CAR 2.05 14. C/A: CAMERA OPERATOR 2.08 15. SV: SOUNDBITE (Arabic) IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREQ AZIZ SAYING: "The resignation of Mr. Hans Von Sponeck and his Deputy proves what we have said for along time that this humanitarian programme has been facing hardships and obstacles by America and Britain." 2.25 16. C/A: NEWS CAMERAS 2.30 17. SV: SOUNDBITE (Arabic) AZIZ SAYING "He (Kofi Annan) should know and infer that there is a serious defect, (obstacles) facing the implementation of the humanitarian programme and he, he (Kofi Annan) is personally responsible for this defect as he himself who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with us." 2.45 18. SV: AZIZ LEAVING 2.52 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA8UDT0ANUNVTUGTJ9FM9VDKI99
  • Story Text: The U.N headquarters in Baghdad is at the
    centre of a sanctions controversy following resignations
    of two key U.N.officials.

    The resignations again raise questions about the
    devastating impact of U.N.sanctions on ordinary Iraqis, with
    member nations split about who is to blame.

    The United Nations "oil-for-food" programme allows Iraq to
    use oil revenues for needed supplies, but UNICEF, the U.N.

    Children's Fund, says the project has made little difference
    in lowering youngsters' mortality rates.

    Other critics say the programme, even if well-run, would
    have trouble functioning because of many checks Iraq, the
    U.N., and suppliers have to undertake before goods can be
    imported.

    On Sunday (February 13), Hans von Sponeck, the German
    humanitarian coordinator in charge of the programme, resigned
    after calling for an end to the sanctions and questioning the
    efficacy of U.N.programmes to improve the lives of 22 million
    Iraqis.

    Speaking on Tuesday (February 15) he said, "A sanctions
    regime of the kind that is implemented here in Iraq is simply
    no longer tolerable, it is also against human rights."
    "It is high time that the population in this country is
    allowed to return to a normal life."
    Von Sponeck's resignation gained added resonance because
    his predecessor, Denis Halliday of Ireland, walked away from
    the same job two years ago for the same reasons.

    His resignation was followed on Wednesday (February 16) by
    that of Jutta Burghardt, Head of the World Food Programme
    (WFP) in Iraq who also quit in protest against the failure of
    U.N.humanitarian programmes in Iraq.She called the
    oil-for-food programme a failure and opposed the latest
    Security Council resolution, which offered to ease the
    nine-year-old sanctions against Iraq if Baghdad allowed
    disarmament monitors back in.

    Speaking about Von Sponeck she said, "I am supporting his
    position and I find that his statement that it is true human
    tragedy, what is happening here cannot be challenged by
    anybody who has a perceptive mind and heart."
    The WFP was established in December 1996 to ease the
    hardship on Iraqi civilians of U.N.sanctions imposed in
    August 1990 after Baghdad invaded Kuwait.

    In the first Iraqi official reaction to the two
    resignations Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz on
    Wednesday held U.N.Secretary General Kofi Annan responsible
    for the obstacles facing the implementation of the
    oil-for-food programme saying, "The resignation of Mr.Hans
    Von Sponeck and his Deputy proves what we have said for along
    time that this humanitarian programme has been facing
    hardships and obstacles by America and Britain.
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