Greek & Int'l Delegation to End all Sanctions Against Iraq
Containted in this message
1. A Press Release from the Greek & int'l delegation that flew to
Baghdad this month.
2. A statement from the delegation.
1.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE
DELEGATION TO END ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ
BAGHDAD 10-13 NOV. 2000
On November 10th 2000, a delegation of 100 persons flew from
Athens to Baghdad to protest the sanctions imposed by the UN since the
Gulf
war of 1991. This was the first flight of a National carrier from Western
Europe
(Olympic Airways), since the sanctions were imposed. It constituted a
statement of solidarity with the peoples of Iraq by defying the embargo
on
civilian flights. It exposed the incredible suffering imposed on
the
people since the implementation of this unprecedented sanctions regime.
According to Alain Gresh, in the Le Monde Diplomatique of October 2000,
the UN Sanctions Committee, controlled by the USA and the UK, enforces
a
series of punitive measures that are the worst the world has known since
the Treaty of Versailles. These sanctions have caused harrowing results
that are not relieved by the so-called 'oil for food program' controlled
by the UN Compensation Commission.
During the bombing by the allied forces in the Gulf War, an estimated 800
tons of depleted uranium contained in ammunitions were used, causing
cancer rates to increase five fold and childhood leukaemia in Iraq to be
the highest rate in the world. The means to provide relief or cure
are
withheld through the sanction regime.
Prior to the sanctions, Iraq had one of the most satisfactory levels of
quality of life for the region. One and a half million Iraqi civilians
have died since 1991 as a direct result of the sanctions, and according
to
UNICEF reports substantiated by the Red Cross, 600,000 of the dead are
children under 5 years of age. Maternal mortality rates have more than
doubled during the period of the sanctions and 70% of Iraqi women suffer
>from anaemia. The number of malnourished children has increased over 300%
since 1991.Unemployment and inflation have soared.
Margarita Papandreou, the head of the organising committee for the flight,
stated that “an increasing number of women and men in the world are
appalled by this dismal situation wilfully created by humans.” The
participants, coming from Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, the USA, the
UK, and Canada, are vehemently opposing the sanctions on Iraq by taking
tangible actions and increasing the number of challenges to the embargo.
The President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom,
a
member of the organising committee, said: “By this visit and the actions
to follow, ;we demand that on the basis of moral, legal and economic
reasons, the USA and the UK, the two permanent members of the UN Security
Council relentlessly opposing the lifting of the sanctions, stop vetoing
food, medicines and repair parts from entering Iraq, immediately cease
the
embargo on approved shipments, and remove all sanctions against Iraq.”
2.
STATEMENT FROM THE
DELEGATION TO END ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ
BAGDAD 10-13 NOV. 2000
On November 10th 2000 a delegation of 95 persons flew from Athens
to
Bagdad to protest the sanctions imposed by the UN since the Gulf
war of
1991.This first flight of a national carrier from Western Europe
defying
the embargo on civilian flights that has been part of the sanctions,
constituted a statement of solidarity with the peoples of Iraq. It
exposes the incredible suffering imposed on these people since the
implementation of this unprecedented sanctions regime.
The UN Sanctions Committee, controlled by the USA and the UK has
imposed a series of punitive measures that are the worst the world has
known. These sanctions have caused the following results that are
not
relieved by the so called 'oil for food program' which is controlled by
the UN Compensation Commission.
Prior to the imposed sanctions, Iraq had the following indicators:
1- The world Health Organization ( WHO ) , reports that " pre- 1990 Iraq
reflects the health statues of a modern developing society , in which the
wealth it
obtained from exporting its main commodity , oil contributed
into improving the
quality of life of the Iraqi people , which then
( 1988/1989 ) was
already at a relatively satisfactory level with indications of a trend
for further improvement .
2- UNICEF reports " the Government of Iraq made sizable investments in
the
education sector from the mid – 1970's until 1990
Educational policy
included provision for Scholarship , research facilities and medical
support for students .
By 1989 the combined primary and secondary enrollment
stood at 75% ( slightly
above the average for all developing Countries at 70% ) . Illiteracy
had been reduced
to 20% by 1987 . Education accounted for over 5%
of the state budget above developing
Countries of 3.8% .
After the imposition of sanction, this is the situation
1- 1.5 million Iraqi civilians have died since 1991 as a direct result
of
the sanctions.
2- 600,000 of the dead are children under 5 years of age according to UNICEF
reports
and substantiated by the Red Cross .
3- Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled during the period of
the sanctions and 70% of Iraqi women suffer from anemia .
4- The number of malnourished children has increased over 300% since 1991.
5- Unemployment has soared under the sanction , as has inflation . The
average civilian salary , for example is $ 3 .60
per month . 6- An
estimated 800 tonnes of depleted uranium contained in ammunitions were
used
by the allied forces in the Gulf War . Cancer rates in Iraq have increased
five – fold since the Gulf War . Childhood leukemia in Iraq is at the highest
rate
in the world .
In recent weeks we have seen an opening of the floodgates with in excess
of 50
flights to Iraq. This is evidence that the majority of women and
men in
the world oppose the economic sanctions imposed on the peoples of Iraq.
We demand that
The two permanent members of the UN Security Council, the USA and the UK,
who continue to veto food, medicines and repair parts from entering Iraq,
cease immediately the embargo on approved shipments and remove all
sanctions against Iraq.
We demand that these actions be taken without delay on the basis of moral,
legal and economic reasons.
Signed by the participants and the organising committee.
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@i...
web: http://www.iacenter.org
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