ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

January 14, 2001

Ten years and three presidents later, America remains firm in its intention to maintain the embargo on Iraq. This position was reaffirmed by the new Secretary of State Colin Powell as he accepted the office. George W. Bush also repeated it during his election campaign. Italy, which was part of the coalition at the time, has long shown more sensitivity to the hardships suffered by the civilian population. And, as Minister for Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini reaffirms, it remains committed to "making a less restrictive interpretation of the sanctions regime prevail, in view, hopefully, of them being lifted". But Italy also says something else, and reminds the United States that "in any case, the UN resolutions already provide for a revocation of the sanctions".

Q. A clear position. However, Mr. Minister, what is an almost total blockade against Iraq remains: are the conditions now in place to lift it?

A. "The respect on the part of Baghdad of the United Nations Security Council resolutions and in particular its acceptance of the United Nations inspections programme, the monitoring, verification and inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), is the pre-condition for a return to the normalisation of Iraq's international relations. That said, Italy is concerned about the consequences of ten years of application of economic sanctions that have led to a sharp deterioration in the living conditions of the Iraqi population. We feel committed to making a less restrictive interpretation of the sanctions regime prevail, in view, hopefully, of them being lifted. Iraq must be shown a way out and requests must be presented that once they are met can put an end to the sanctions".

Q. The new Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has ruled out the possibility of lifting the sanctions despite the fact that one of President Bush's top aides is among the authors of a report that calls for sanctions to be eliminated. Are we to expect a further period of inflexibility on the part of the USA?

A. "We must wait until the new American administration takes over in order to know its policy lines. We will be delighted to be able to continue with the new Secretary of State Colin Powell, the dialogue that has been developed on such issues as well as others, with Madeleine Albright. In any case, a lifting of the sanctions is in fact provided for in the UN resolution, once Iraq has met its obligations under the Resolutions. Resolution 1284, which has not yet been accepted by Iraq, also sets out the possibility of a suspension of the sanctions in the case of a favourable semestrial report that will have to be drafted by UNMOVIC once the Commission has begun its inspection work".

Q. The position of Europe, with the exception of Great Britain, is more possibilist. Will there be more steps towards a rapprochement with the Union?

A. "Italy has become a spokesman for the feelings of concern about the humanitarian situation in Iraq, in the framework of the European Union too, and has endeavoured to maintain the level of attention high. Our country is in fact one of the main advocates of the Humanitarian Action plan for Iraq, launched at the European Council of Tampere. There still exist obstacles to the good functioning of the Oil for Food programme and we are working to make it respond to the effective needs of the Iraqi population".

Q. Could Italy promote, as many national representatives have underlined, an international policy of reopening of a corridor (at least a humanitarian corridor) with Baghdad? Out country has in fact played an important role for example in the rapprochement of Iran to the West…

A. "Italy upholds that flights of a humanitarian nature to provide support to the Iraqi population are needed. Other countries, including France, Russia and some Arab States, have also expressed similar positions. All flights leaving Italy and bringing medical supplies to Baghdad have in fact been made in the full observation of the sanctions system provided for by the United Nations. I wish to emphasise that in consideration of the serious situation, which afflicts above all the infant population, various co-operation initiatives have been launched, including that of the rehabilitation of the Al Nouman hospital in Baghdad".