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Russian oil companies have secured 104 million barrels of Iraqi crude in Phase 8 of the UN oil-for-food deal, with 15 firms approved to lift the oil. Lukoil, however, has been left out due to its failure to develop the West Qurna field. Zarubezhneft leads the pack with 20 million
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Iraq's recent test of its Al-Samud rocket, which has a range of less than 150 kilometers, has reignited concerns about its capacity to build and deploy weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Although the test does not violate UN restrictions, the fact that the facilities where the rocket was
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Iraq's UN ambassador and chief negotiator for the oil-for-food program, Abdul Al Anbari, expressed frustration with certain members of the UN Security Council who he believes are seeking to prolong a 10-year regime of strict trade sanctions. Anbari criticized a UN resolution passed in December 1999, which would
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United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced on June 16 that a U.N. verification team had confirmed the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, marking a significant milestone in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 425 of 1978. However, Lebanese Prime Minister Selim Hoss disputed the claim, stating
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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed deep concern over the recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urged the Security Council to take action against foreign troops if they fail to withdraw. Annan told the 15-member panel in a written report that the situation in the DRC
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A significant shift in American foreign policy has occurred following an agreement by Senator Judd Gregg to release $50 million in funds for UN peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone. The funds were initially blocked by Senator Gregg due to his objections over the Lome accord, a peace agreement signed by
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In a surprising turn of events, the British troops who arrived in Sierra Leone last month to prop up a United Nations peacekeeping force on the verge of collapse are set to leave the country in mid-June. The 14-member team of Royal Marines, part of the 800-strong British force, will
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A United Nations envoy said that Syria is ready to accept Israel's retreat from southern Lebanon, which could lessen the possibility of renewed violence along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, met with Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara of Syria and stated that they were in "full
United Nations
After decades of isolation, Israel has finally accepted a long-sought goal of gaining a foothold in the United Nations by securing temporary membership in a regional caucus. The historic decision, facilitated by European friends and the intercession of Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, came with significant concessions, including forgoing influential seats
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At least five people were killed and several others were wounded in an ambush by rebels from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone. Two Western journalists, an American and a Spaniard, were among those killed in the attack, alongside three Sierra Leone government troops. Two other foreign journalists,
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The United Nations Security Council has increased the number of troops deployed in Sierra Leone to 13,000, with potential further expansions in the coming weeks. This decision was necessitated by the arrival of reinforcements from Bangladesh, Jordan, and India, which pushed the force above its original limit of 11,
United Nations
Prime Minister Jean Chretien has announced that Canada will provide technical assistance to UN peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, while ruling out the deployment of Canadian ground troops. Canadian officials have also pledged to provide 1,700 helmets and 1,700 flak jackets for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone. In
