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TITLE: Official Says UN Blocks 43 New Oil-For-Aid Contracts |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: BridgeNews Amman |
DATE: February 5, 2001 |
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The UN panel in charge of enforcing the Iraq embargo suspended in the last week of January 43 contracts concluded earlier by the Iraqi government as part of the oil-for-aid program, the official Iraq News Agency (INA) reported Monday, quoting a Trade Ministry spokesman. The official said that the deals were concluded with firms from 20 countries during the oil-for-aid plan's eighth episode, which closed in the first week of December. "The deals were blocked at the behest of the U.S. and U.K. representatives during the committee's 661 session held Jan. 23-29," he added. The contracts involved spare parts for the electric power network, irrigation equipment, vehicles and transport spare parts, grain silos, lab appliances for the education sector, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, the official said. The deals were concluded with suppliers from France, Russia, China, Belgium, Switzerland, India, Greece, Turkey, Korea, Cyprus, Sweden, Italy, Holland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates, he added. END |