Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990 TAG: 9004190788
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/11 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"I think there is no question that Iraq's human rights record is abysmal," said Rep. Doug Bereuter, R-Neb., a co-sponsor of the non-binding resolution.
The resolution cites, among other violations, Iraq's use of chemical weapons against its Kurdish minority in 1988 and persistent repression of all political opposition.
Rep. Gus Yatron, D-Pa., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on human rights, which passed the measure unanimously, said the State Department told Congress that officials opposed the measure because it referred to Iraq's "consistent pattern of gross violations" of human rights.
Yatron said the department's human rights office at first endorsed the resolution but later the department reversed course at the insistence of the Near East division.
He called it highly unusual for a State Department bureau to seek repeal language.
Lawmakers said the department opposed the resolution because, if it was binding, the language could trigger a cutoff of all U.S. aid to Iraq. The resolution, however, is not binding.
Of more concern to the administration is draft legislation being sponsored by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., that would ban all U.S. aid to Iraq.
The administration is particularly opposed to a provision in the draft bill that would ban credits and loans by the government's Export-Import Bank for Iraqi agriculture, said Edward Gnehm, deputy assistant secretary of state in charge of Persian Gulf affairs.
Gnehm, speaking at a seminar on Wednesday, said the administration's "policy on sanctions is to oppose them." And he added, "our objective will be to see that it [the bill] doesn't pass."
Iraq, he said, "is an important country, with an important role to play in the region. We hope this role will be a constructive one."
The administration believes that sanctions would antagonize Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and reduce U.S. influence over his policies.
Iraq has the world's second-largest proven oil reserves, and U.S. dependence on imported oil from the Persian Gulf region is growing. Iraq also has the region's biggest military force, battle-tried during its nine-year war with Iran.
But ties with the United States have been strained in recent weeks over a series of disclosures about Iraqi actions.
Gnehm cited a warning by Saddam that his country would use chemical weapons against Israel if attacked, which he called "inflammatory"; last month's exposure of an Iraqi ring allegedly trying to smuggle nuclear triggers for atomic bombs; and an alleged plot by an Iraqi diplomat at the United Nations to kill two political opponents.
"Recent Iraqi actions have raised serious questions in our mind about Iraqi intentions," he said. "Iraq cannot flout our laws and act in ways which call its international commitments into question with impunity."
He urged the Iraqi government to "take early action to allay the concerns we have about its recent behavior."
Although Saddam has denied he intends to develop nuclear arms, Gnehm said Iraq continues to try and develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
by CNB