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Cheney plan calls for lifting sanctions, increasing oil imports

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, April 20, 2001

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is considering recommendations for a partial lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran, Iraq and Libya.

Vice President Richard Cheney heads a panel that has called for the lifting of sanctions as part of an effort to increase oil imports to the United States, Middle East Newsline reports. A report by the panel echoes similar recommendations issued by the New York-based Council on Foreign Policy.

"The administration will initiate a comprehensive sanctions review and seek to engage the Congress in a partnership for sanctions reform," a draft report quoted by the Washington Post said.

The draft is expected to be issued next month. It comes ahead of a debate in Congress over the continuation of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, passed in 1996 and which expires in August.

The debate pits the oil industry against defense hawks in Congress. Diplomatic sources said Israel has also quietly urged the administration to maintain sanctions on Iran, Iraq and Libya in an effort to impede their plans to build intermediate-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

Oil production from the three countries comprise eight percent of world demand.

The sanctions act bans firms from investing more than $20 million in the Iranian energy industry. The cap on investments in Libya is $40 million.

Thursday, April 20, 2001


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