US Implies to Loosen Economic Sanctions on Iraq

The US government is thinking about allowing civilian goods to move back and forth into Iraq more freely, according to visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Edward Walker.

After talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Walker told a news conference on Thursday that the US government will keep control over the build-up of weapons of mass destruction and chemical biological and nuclear weaponry, "So it does not become a threat to its neighbors."

Walker, who is responsible for Middle East affairs, added that the US will assume new policies to allow civilian goods trade with Iraq, which "will let the Iraqi people live a normal life."

On southern Lebanon, Walker expressed the hope for a calm situation there. "The key thing is to avoid provocations or provocative acts on both sides", he said, adding "Do not have an escalation coming out from an isolated act."

He said Hariri has assured him that Lebanon will make every effort to keep the situation calm.

In addition, he denied that he transmitted Israel's message of threat to Lebanese leaders, saying "Israelis are capable of sending their own messages."

Israeli Chief of General Staff Shaul Mofaz made a threat against Lebanon and Syria last week, saying that Israeli troops will retaliate fiercely if resistance Hezbollah launches any cross-border military action.

During the talks, Walker explained to Hariri that US Secretary of State Colin Powell couldn't visit Lebanon in his recent Middle East trip "due to time problem." But he promised Powell will "come back" to visit Lebanon.

Lebanese leaders were disappointed at Powell's decision not to include Lebanon in his four-day, whirlwind tour of the region, which took him to Egypt, Israel, Palestinian self-rule areas, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Walker was also to meet with Lebanon's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri to brief them on Powell's visit and listen to their view on regional affairs before leaving Friday afternoon.

Iraq has been under stringent economic sanctions ever since its invasion of neighboring Kuwait in 1990, which it claims have caused a loss of some 150 billion dollars.






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