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Iraq Urges Arab Nations to Reject "Smart Sanctions"
An Iraqi newspaper Monday urged Arab and friendly nations to reject a UN Security Council draft resolution on "smart sanctions" proposed by the US and Britain.
Al Thawra, mouthpiece of Iraq's ruling Baath Party, said on Monday that the smart sanctions will certainly harm the interests of Iraq as well as those of Arab countries.
"Criticizing the draft resolution behind closed doors or seeking to have some of its paragraphs amended is not enough," the newspaper said, "the draft resolution and its "colonial" principles should be completely rejected."
Iraq hopes that its Arab sisterly countries and friends will take a bold and brave position to reject the draft resolution, it said. The U.S.-British proposal is a conspiracy against Arab nations as well as all peoples struggling for their independence and sovereignty, it added.
Iraq has recently launched a diplomatic, media and political campaign against "smart sanctions," designed to ease Iraqi import of civilian goods and tighten curbs on military-related materials.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has sent special envoys to neighboring and friendly countries to explain Iraq's position on " smart sanctions."
Earlier this month, Hussein also urged Russia to use veto against the draft resolution.
Iraq has been under the international sanctions since 1990 for its invasion of neighboring Kuwait.
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