UN Offers Iraq Deal to Suspend Sanctions in Exchange for Arms Inspection

The United Nations has offered Saddam Hussein a deal to suspend its punishing sanctions against Iraq in exchange for allowing another arms inspection team into the country. Despite Baghdad's rejection of the deal in advance, the resolution, which had the impact of international law, remains a significant development in the ongoing saga of Iraq's disarmament. The 11-0 vote, with four abstentions by permanent council members China, France, Russia, and Malaysia, sent a message that the council remains far from united on the issue.

Key Takeaways:

• The UN resolution requires Iraq to allow a new arms inspection team, UNMOVIC, into the country, replacing the old UNSCOM team, in exchange for temporarily suspending economic sanctions for 120 days.
• The resolution allows Iraq to sell more oil under the "oil for food" programme, with the cap increased to $5.26 billion every six months.
• Iraq will need reassurance that UNMOVIC will not include Western intelligence agents, following serious allegations that UNSCOM staff were working for the CIA.
• If Iraq co-operates fully for 120 days, the Security Council will recommend temporarily suspending economic sanctions for 120 days, renewable in 120-day blocks until the inspection is completed.
• Russia's ambassador to the UN, Sergei Lavrov, warned that without co-operation from Iraq, any plans or projects will remain on paper.
• The US energy secretary, Bill Richardson, has announced that oil prices have drifted into dangerously high levels, and is prepared to recommend steps to protect the US consumer and economy.
• Tony Blair's spokesman said that Saddam is "firmly back in his cage" and that the ball is now in his court, with no deadline for a response from the Iraqi leadership.

Statistics:

• The cap on oil sales under the "oil for food" programme has been increased to $5.26 billion every six months.
• UNMOVIC will comprise a new arms inspection team to replace the old UNSCOM team.
• The resolution requires Iraq to co-operate fully for 120 days, after which the Security Council will recommend temporarily suspending economic sanctions for 120 days.
• The US energy secretary, Bill Richardson, has announced that oil prices have drifted into dangerously high levels, above what is considered safe for the US economy.

Sources:

• "Byline: SEVERIN CARRELL and JAMES KIRKUP"
• "Saddam Hussein was last night offered a deal to suspend the United Nation's punishing sanctions against Iraq in exchange for allowing another arms inspection team into his country." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "The resolution, which required nine votes and no veto to be adopted, has the impact of international law." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Even Russia's ambassador, Sergei Lavrov, its main opponent, said there was no split in the council." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "It was little short of miraculous that we got to a result on this very difficult subject," said Sir Jeremy Greenstock, its sponsor and Britain's key negotiator. - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Saddam is firmly back in his cage and we are constantly vigilant. The ball is now in his court," Tony Blair's spokesman said in London, adding that there would be no deadline for a response from the Iraqi leadership. - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Iraq had insisted that sanctions should be lifted fully, and not temporarily suspended." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "The main issue of contention, that brought the abstentions, was what Russia, China and France called the lack of clarity in spelling out exactly what disarmament tasks Iraq had to meet before a suspension of the sanctions, imposed after Baghdad invaded Kuwait in 1990." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Britain claims the deal offers Baghdad the chance of ending the suffering of Iraqi children, the sick and poor: while the resolution leaves many tasks to be fulfilled over months to come, it immediately lifts the cap on how much oil Iraq can sell under the 'oil for food' programme, set at $5.26 billion every six months." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Iraq will need reassurance that UNMOVIC will not include Western intelligence agents after serious allegations emerged that UNSCOM staff were working for the CIA." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "If Iraq co-operates fully for 120 days, the Security Council will recommend temporarily suspending economic sanctions for 120 days." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Without co-operation from Iraq, any plans or projects will just remain on the paper they are written on." - Sergei Lavrov, Russian ambassador to the UN, unknown date
• "It allows the legitimate claim that Saddam 'stays in his cage', as the weapons inspectors must report real progress before sanctions are suspended." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Less obviously, it opens the door to that cage just a little, which might be what the United States is looking for." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Sanctions have kept most of Iraq's oil off the world markets for nearly a decade, but Washington may be starting to wonder if that outcome serves its interests." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "The US energy secretary, Bill Richardson, last weekend made a surprise announcement." - Unknown author, unknown date
• "Oil prices have been drifting into dangerously high levels," he said. - Bill Richardson, US energy secretary, unknown date
• "I am prepared to recommend whatever steps are necessary to protect the US consumer and the US economy." - Bill Richardson, US energy secretary, unknown date