PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIRMAN OF SANCTIONS COMMITTEE

10 July 1996

Press Briefing

19960710 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

The Chairman of the Security Council Committee set up to monitor the sanctions against Iraq announced at a press conference yesterday evening that the Committee had just examined a clean copy of draft expedited procedures to implement resolution 986 (1995). The resolution, which authorize States to permit the import of up to $1 billion of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products every 90 days to meet the Iraqis' humanitarian needs, also asks the Committee to develop expedited procedures for its implementation.

Tono Eitel (Germany), Committee Chairman, told correspondents that after seven weeks of deliberations, a clean copy of the draft, with a minor issue outstanding, would be sent to national capitals for further action. The outstanding issue presents two options for consideration and decision by States.

Also present at the briefing was Guido Hildner (Germany), coordinator of the Committee's working group of experts.

Mr. Eitel said the 12-page draft contained 46 paragraphs and two annexes. Its six sections addressed the following: sale of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products; Turkey's import of those products; exports of humanitarian supplies to Iraq; export of parts and equipment to Iraq and relevant financial transactions; the approval of reasonable expenses other than those payable in Iraq; and general provisions. Annex I contains the standard application form to request the approval of contracts for selling Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products, while annex II spells out the information to be provided in letters of credit. The current draft was based on an earlier version furnished by the Secretariat.

Mr. Eitel said four individuals would be appointed to oversee the implementation of resolution 986 (1995). Subject to the amount of work and the volume of transactions, that number would be reviewed to enable work of addressing Iraq's urgent humanitarian needs to proceed quickly.

In response to a question, Mr. Eitel said the overseers would be named on the recommendation of the Secretariat, following adoption of the draft. Member States had been asked to present candidates, and between four and 10 names were now being circulated. The overseers will work at the Secretariat in shifts around the clock.

Asked why the deliberations had taken seven weeks, Mr. Eitel cited the logistics required to keep in constant communication with capitals on

Sanctions Committee Press Conference - 2 - 10 July 1996

technical matters. In addition, not all delegations shared a common understanding of the relationship between resolution 986 and Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Asked whether there had been consensus in the Committee, Mr. Eitel said the draft was a clean copy but for the minor issue that had cropped up, which required a choice between two alternative sentences. The Committee would meet again Friday, 12 July, to adopt the draft and send it to the Council.

A correspondent asked for details regarding section II of the draft, which deals with the import by Turkey of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products. Mr. Eitel said the section was brief and contained only one paragraph. It provided no details on the volume of transactions or their value. Mr. Hildner added that the section addressed such matters as the payment of fees for use of the pipeline across Turkey and proposed use of the same procedures as for general oil sales. It made no reference to monetary amounts, which would depend on sales volume.

Asked how many monitors would be needed to implement the resolution, Mr. Hildner said the total number to be appointed would be decided by the Secretary-General. They would fall into three categories. The first group would be charged with inspecting the oil flow at the oil terminal in Iraq, at the crossing of the pipeline into Turkey and at the Turkish terminal. A second group of inspection agents would confirm the arrival of humanitarian supplies in Iraq, while a third group would observe their distribution.

* *** *