WASHINGTON Ñ The United Nations is preparing to vote on a proposal
to impose so-called smart sanctions on Iraq.
The vote has been delayed by Russia and Syria, two allies of Iraq which
have sought to ease the terms of such sanctions. The United States has been
pressing both countries to agree to a Security Council vote.
"Just getting everything pinned down and agreed to is taking a little
time," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Syria is regarded as Iraq's closest ally on the Security Council.
Damascus, which does not have veto power, obtains more than 200,000 barrels
of crude oil from Iraq in violation of UN sanctions.
A British draft would accelerate the supply of humanitarian and civilian
goods to Iraq. Britain and the United States have drafted a 300-page
document that lists military and dual-use goods that require examination
before they are approved for export to Iraq. Any other products would be
quickly approved by the UN.
So far, the United States has blocked $5 billion worth of goods ordered
by Iraq. U.S. officials said Iraq has often refused to explain the uses of
the products it has ordered.
The new sanctions regime would regime does not address Iraqi oil
smuggling. Officials said Iraq earns at least $500 million a year from
smuggle oil, revenues used for Baghdad's missile and weapons of mass
destruction programs.
"Iraq has a lot of border," U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.
"They're porous borders. So, the question goes not to what's going to
happen by way of the vote, but to a question as to whether or not it's
likely that those borders will be sealed and prevent things that will
enhance Iraq's military capability. I think the answer is it will not."
Over the weekend, Iraqi anti-aircraft gunners again confronted British
and U.S. warplanes over southern Iraq. An Iraqi military spokesman said
allied fighter-jets, backed by early-warning aircraft, carried out 29
sorties from Saudi Arabia.
