UN Security Council Resumes Debate on 'Oil-for-food' Extension

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 05, 2002

UN Security Council Resumes Debate on 'Oil-for-food' Extension

Facing a deadline set on midnight Wednesday, the UN Security Council resumed its debate over the extension of the "oil-for-food" program.

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Facing a deadline set on midnight Wednesday, the UN Security Council resumed its debate over the extension of the "oil-for-food" program.

The 15-member council voted on Nov. 25 to approve a nine-day technical roll-over to the humanitarian program. As a temporary measure, the short extension allows further discussion on the review of the so-called "goods review list."

The United States has expressed concern that some items on the list did not necessarily apply for civilian or humanitarian purposes, and may improve the Iraqi government's ability for chemical warfare.

When the council resumed its consultation Wednesday morning, the United States came back with a proposal for another roll-over for two weeks. But this time, it was alone, without support even from its closest ally, Britain.

"The British kept asking why, but they got no answer," a diplomat close to the meeting told Xinhua. "The US delegation is now consulting its capital."

The council's resolution 1373, which authorized the list, did not rule out any modification in the future. With another roll-over, the United States hopes to push the council to agree on its proposal for an adjustment of the list, according to the diplomat who declined to be identified.

"It is a 14-1 debate, with the rest favoring a routine extension for six months," the source said, adding that the Russian delegation would agree to another roll-over, only if a provision of "automatic extension of six months" is added to the draft.

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