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Here's a later (AP) story by Leon Barkho that claims - on pretty slim evidence as far as I can see - that there are real differences between Burghardt and von Sponeck in relation to 1284. The piece claims that "unlike von Sponeck, who dismissed [1284] as inadequate ... Burghardt said it "has really positive elements". It also claims that "Burghardt fully supports von Sponeck". An earlier (Reuters) report claimed that Burghardt "opposed" 1284 while Burghardt herself was quoted by Agence France Presse (in a piece entitled "UN food aid chief joins protest against UN sanctions resolution", which in turn cited an interview with CNN) as saying that "I find it increasingly difficult ti be legally bound as we are told by New York to implement (Security Council) resolution 1284". Nonetheless my earlier description of Burghardt as having "blasted" 1284 may have been somewhat premature. Gabriel. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Wednesday February 16 10:01 AM ET U.N. Official Quits Over Impasse By LEON BARKHO Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The head of the U.N. World Food Program in Iraq said today that a stalemate over a Security Council resolution laying out a new approach to the nation prompted her to quit. ``The United Nations is legally bound to implement it, but the government (of Iraq) is not cooperating for its own reasons,'' Jutta Burghardt said in her first comments since announcing her resignation Tuesday. Burghardt, of Germany, was the second senior U.N. relief official to quit this week citing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Hans von Sponeck, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, also resigned saying civilians are victims of the standoff between the Iraqi government and the Security Council. During the past decade, Iraqis have struggled under economic sanctions imposed after Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Under U.N. resolutions, the sanctions cannot be lifted until weapons inspectors certify Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction. Von Sponeck, a German diplomat, long has called for a clear separation of humanitarian aid and disarmament issues. Burghardt said she fully supports von Sponeck, whose findings ``cannot be challenged by anybody who has a perceptive mind and heart.'' But unlike von Sponeck, who dismissed as inadequate a December resolution that will partially suspend sanctions in return for full cooperation with a new weapons inspection commission, Burghardt said it ``has really positive elements.'' With the Iraqi government digging in its heels, however, the resolution cannot be implemented and the suffering of civilians is bound to continue, she said. Not implementing the resolution ``brings the unresolved issues full force to the ground here - and we are supposed to resolve them.'' Von Sponeck said the new policy was flawed and did not make a clear distinction between civilian needs and disarmament obligations. ``I do not think this resolution has a chance to come to fruition very quickly ... even if that happens I do not think that this is enough,'' Von Sponeck told The Associated Press. His resignation became official Monday. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is in Indonesia on the final leg of a tour of Southeast Asia, said today that there would be no change to the world body's approach to Iraq. ``I will just have to appoint a new director,'' he said. ``We are continually trying to work to make it as effective as possible, and I think the program will go forward.'' The resolution lifts a cap on Iraqi oil sales to help the government earn more money to finance humanitarian purchases. It is intended to make approval of contracts easier and opens the possibility of foreign investment in the oil industry and the use of oil proceeds to buy local produce. But it also sets up a new weapons-inspection regime, which Iraq has vowed not to accept. Iraq has criticized the resolution and has continued pumping oil within the old six-month ceiling of $5.2 billion. The United Nations closely monitors spending of oil revenues, limiting Iraq's purchases largely to humanitarian goods under an ``oil-for-food'' program. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz today urged Annan to declare that the program is not functioning properly: ``He is the person who bears the responsibility.'' -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full archive and list instructions are available from the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi