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Iraq Refuses to Accept UN Resolution without Lifting Embargo: Ramadan
Iraq reiterated on Wednesday its opposition to any UN Security Council resolution that does not include unconditional lifting of the crippling embargo, imposed on it 11 years ago.
"Iraq rejects any resolution that the Security Council might adopt unanimously or by majority, unless it includes an unconditional lifting of the embargo," said Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, urging the U.N. Security Council to condemn the continued aggression against the Iraqi people.
Ramadan made the remark following the inauguration of the 73rd session of the Arab Economic Union's Council in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Chiding the Security Council's approval of a one-month extension of the oil-for-food deal last Friday, the Iraqi vice president said that it offered the United States a chance to continue plotting against Iraq and pave the way for imposing a new embargo on the Iraqi people in collaboration with Britain and Zionism.
He also termed the Security Council as "paralyzed body" since it became convicted following the adoption of unjust resolutions on Iraq, under which it said the embargo will be lifted when Iraq implemented the resolutions.
The Arab Economic Union's Council session came at a time when five permanent members of the Security Council were discussing the so-called "smart" sanctions on Iraq, proposed by the U.S. and Britain.
Iraq has voiced strong opposition to the proposal on smart sanctions, which aims to ease curbs on imports of civilian goods but tighten controls on military equipment and technology to Iraq.
On Monday, Iraq halted oil exports to protest against the smart sanction proposal.
Iraq has been under international sanctions since its invasion of neighboring Kuwait in 1991.
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