Indonesia for lifting of embargo on Iraq

Indonesia for lifting of embargo on Iraq

JAKARTA (JP): Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamad Sa'id Al-Sahaf
met with President Soeharto yesterday to ensure Indonesia's
support for the lifting of sanctions against Baghdad.

"We are working together with the various members of the
Security Council and my visit here is within this context," Al-
Sahaf said, following the meeting at the Bina Graha presidential
office.

The UN imposed heavy sanctions in 1990 following the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait. The sanctions, in particular the embargo on
Iraqi oil exports, have had a devastating effect on the country's
economy.

Over the past few years Indonesia, along with a number of
other countries, has called for at least a partial easing of the
embargo, arguing that Baghdad has complied with the UN's demands.

"Iraq has implemented all major and important issues included
in the Security Council resolutions," Al-Sahaf said.

President Soeharto reiterated yesterday Indonesia's support
for Iraq.

"Indonesia, in the Security Council, has tried and will
continue to try to establish an awareness of what Iraq has done
in complying with the UN resolutions," Indonesian Foreign
Minister Ali Alatas quoted Soeharto as saying.

With the sanctions up for review in a few months, a tug-of-war
is currently taking place to persuade Security Council members
either to extend or to soften the sanctions.

This is Al-Sahaf's second visit to Jakarta in less than a
year. He ends his two-day visit tomorrow to continue his trip to
China, which is a permanent member of the Security Council.

Just two-weeks ago Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister, Sulaiman M.
Al-Shaheen, came here in an attempt to reverse Indonesia's
support for a lifting of the sanctions.

Last Tuesday the Libyan foreign minister paid a visit to the
Indonesian capital. He was here to seek support for a dropping of
sanctions against Tripoli.

The visits, by the Iraqi foreign minister, the Kuwaiti deputy
prime minister and the Libyan foreign minister, underline the
important role that Jakarta, as a member of the UN Security
Council, is now playing on the international scene.

Alatas indicated again yesterday that, as chair of the 111-
nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indonesia would rally the
support of NAM members in the Security Council -- Botswana,
Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda.

Despite the support of permanent members France and Russia it
remains doubtful whether Jakarta will be able to overcome the
United States' at the UN's position in favor of maintaining
sanctions.

Over the weekend the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine
Albright, boasted that she had enough votes to fend-off any
attempt to ease the sanctions.

Alatas said yesterday that the UN must review the situation on
humanitarian grounds and reduce the tremendous suffering being
inflicted on the Iraqi people.

"If the sanctions cannot be removed yet, then, at the very
least, there should be some leniency in light of Iraq's
compliance so far," he said.

Al-Sahaf suggested that the first step for the Security
Council to take was to lift the sanctions on oil exportation.
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