By Vicki Silverman
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Through the United Nations revised goods list, Iraqi oil money can be used for the free flow of goods to Iraq's civilian economy. At the same time, the international community is steadfast in blocking items that could help the Iraqi regime reconstitute the military capabilities.

Assistant Secretary of State for Non-Proliferation John Wolf discussed these developments with Egyptian journalists in late May. Speaking with reporters via Worldnet satellite television on the "Global Exchange" news program, Wolf outlined how the procedures adopted unanimously by the U.N. Security Council on May 14 make the administration of sanctions a clearer, more transparent, and more efficient process.

Fast Review of Sales to Iraq

Under the new plan, Wolf noted there is a presumption of contract approval. When reviewing contracts for sales to Iraq, the United Nations will hold up only those items on the goods review list, ensuring other items will pass through and be released for Iraq's civilian economy, Wolf said.

"There is a Security Council consensus on the items that warrant review, unlike previously," Wolf noted. "There are very specific timeframes during which the review process will take place. And for those items where the supplier has provided the required amount of information up front, the process will be very efficient."

"Everyone will know where the contract is and how long it should take for the contract to be reviewed and for items to be considered," Wolf explained.

"The new sanctions regime is going to be very important for the ordinary Iraqi individual," Rend Francke said on "Global Exchange." She is the director of the Iraq Foundation, a non-profit organization to promote democracy and human rights in Iraq.

"Food, medication, clothing, school supplies, books and so on are going to be able to go into Iraq much more easily," she said, noting ordinary Iraqis should have more food, medicine and medical equipment and supplies available, at a price they can afford, than ever before "if the new system is used properly by the Iraqi government."

Greater Effort to Stop the Smuggling of Prohibited Items

When questioned about smuggling of goods into Iraq, Wolf noted 80 percent of Iraq's imports come through the United Nations Oil-for-Food program. He acknowledged some goods have been smuggled through neighboring states. He said the United States "will intensify (bilateral) efforts to try to stop at least those things which are most directly contributing to Iraq's efforts to reconstitute its weapons capabilities."

While the Security Council worked with dedication over the past 15 months to streamline the sanctions reviews process for the benefit of Iraq's civilian economy, Wolf underscored the resolve of the Council to thwart efforts by Iraq to acquire weapons that would threaten its neighbors and the international community.

Wolf noted the new list of prohibited items reflects the contribution of experts from all 15 members of the Security Council.

"It's very clear to us and to other members of the Council that Iraq remains in defiance of Resolution 687.... That resolution said that Iraq had to destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction, missiles with a range of longer than 150 kilometers. And Iraq was prohibited from importing conventional weapons or the means to constitute them," Wolf said.

No Negotiation of Iraq's Obligations under Resolution 687

"The international community is insistent that sanctions will remain in place until all of the aspects, not just weapons of mass destruction aspects, but all aspects of 687 are fulfilled," Wolf told journalists.

"Iraq was basically telling the world community it had no intention of honoring its obligations" when it threw out U.N. weapons inspectors in 1998, Wolf said. In the four years since, he said it was clear the regime has continued to reconstitute its capabilities.

Denied access to Iraq for four years, Wolf indicated that if the U.N. was able to resume its inspection and verification function, it would be similar to starting a new inspections program, not just returning to old military locations.

Given the seriousness of the threat, Wolf said the United Nations would not "dumb down" their inspections program nor negotiate its conditions.

"It is for Iraq to prove that it has fulfilled its responsibilities, not for the U.N. to prove the contrary.... We have learned enough about Iraq's efforts to hide, distort, dissemble in the past.... It can't just be a question of opening the doors, let inspectors look around and leave. They need to demonstrate very clearly in a persuasive way that will enable the international community to have the confidence it needs," Wolf said.

GLOBAL EXCHANGE is a program of Worldnet Television, in association with the U.S. Government's International Broadcasting Bureau. GLOBAL EXCHANGE offers television broadcasters live interview segments in Arabic or English with America's foremost decision-makers, politicians, entrepreneurs, medical experts, scientists, and authors. It airs live every Wednesday and programs may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.ibb.gov/worldnet/globalex.html.