Today, the United States government will submit a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council that will lift the United Nations sanctions against Iraq. According to the proposed resolution by the U.S., the well-known 'Oil for Food' program will be gradually phased out over the next four months, and Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is invited to appoint a special coordinator for Iraq. John Negroponte, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, states that he expects the resolution to abolish the international sanctions program against Iraq to be approved by the Security Council before June 3, which is before the renewal of the Oil for Food program. However, the proposed resolution may face opposition from some Security Council member countries that opposed the war in Iraq - namely Russia, France, and China. These three countries argue that before lifting the sanctions, United Nations weapons inspectors must first confirm that Iraq no longer possesses weapons of mass destruction.
Draft Resolution to Lift Sanctions Against Iraq Submitted to the Security Council Today - 2003-05-09
The U.S. is submitting a draft resolution to lift UN sanctions against Iraq, phasing out the 'Oil for Food' program. John Negroponte expects approval before June 3, but Russia, France, and China may oppose it, demanding confirmation that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction. This is significant as it reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and the role of the U.S. in post-war Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council to lift sanctions against Iraq, phasing out the 'Oil for Food' program. The resolution may face opposition from Russia, France, and China, who demand confirmation that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction.
- The 'Oil for Food' program is being phased out over four months.
- Opposition from Russia, France, and China hinges on the need for weapons inspections.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The 'Oil for Food' program was established to allow Iraq to sell oil in exchange for food and humanitarian supplies, following sanctions imposed after the Gulf War. The debate over lifting sanctions is tied to concerns about Iraq's weapons capabilities.
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