Iraq Accepts Renewal of Oil-for-Food Program

Iraq had officially notified the United Nations of its agreement to accept the renewal of the oil-for-food program for another period of six months, UN said Monday, December 11.

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Iraq relayed its acceptance of the renewal of the program in a letter to the UN secretary-general.

The Security Council decided last Tuesday to renew the humanitarian plan for Iraq for another period of six months beginning on December 6, 2000.

The oil-for-food program, which began in late 1996, allows Iraq to sell oil under U.N. supervision to buy food, medicine, oil spare parts and a host of other goods in an effort to ease the impact of the United Nations.

The United Nations imposed stringent sanctions on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The sanctions cannot be lifted until Iraq is clarified to be free from weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq suspended oil exports 10 days ago after it failed to get an agreement with the United Nations on the pricing formula of oil exports for December. The dispute was solved Friday but bad weather had prevented Iraq from loading vessels with oil at its Mina al Bakr port.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/