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Resolution to lift U.N. sanctions on IraqU.S. to lift separate sanctions
Liz Neisloss
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- A U.S.-drafted resolution calling for a full lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iraq is expected to be presented to all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council in the next few days, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday. In addition, President Bush announced Wednesday he was directing some U.S. sanctions against Iraq be dropped. Powell's comments came after he held a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the resolution, which he described as a measure "that will unite the international community to help the people of Iraq to a better life and to build a new government." According to diplomats who have seen the text, it also calls for the naming of a special U.N. representative on Iraq as well as an arrangement for international oversight of Iraq's oil sales. "It's also a resolution that will give a role to the secretary-general to play and the United Nations to play, to play the vital role that [President Bush] has spoken of," Powell said. Agreement between the United States and its key coalition partner, the British, on the resolution was announced Wednesday. "There is basically an agreed text," a British official said. "We'll discuss it with key partners in the coming days." Those key partners are the other veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council -- Russia, France and China -- as well as Germany, another vocal antiwar opponent with a Security Council seat. Referring to the animosity sparked between the United States and those countries opposed to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Powell suggested the resolution may heal some of those rifts. "You can be sure that it is a resolution that does not fight the battles of the past, but is forward-looking," he said. "I think it's a resolution that everybody will be able to rally around. U.S. Iraq Sanctions Act suspendedThe United States will ease some sanctions against Iraq as it attempts to help rebuild the country, announced. "First, based on the authority recently given to me by Congress, I am suspending the Iraq Sanctions Act, which restricts the export of certain equipment necessary for Iraq's reconstruction," said Bush. "Secondly, I am directing Treasury Secretary (John) Snow to relax administrative sanctions on American companies and citizens conducting business in Iraq that contributes to humanitarian relief and reconstruction," said the president. Earlier, Snow had announced four new "licenses" that will permit money and goods to go to Iraq. "The regime that was once the target of our sanctions has been extinguished," he said. "Our mission now is to rebuild and provide much-needed humanitarian aid as the people of Iraq begin a new life in freedom." The first license permits people and groups who wish to provide humanitarian aid to Iraq to begin to do so immediately. The second allows people in the United States to send money -- up to $500 a month -- to any individual in Iraq. The latest Census Bureau figures show about 143,000 Iraqis living in the United States. The third license authorizes "any activity paid for with U.S. government funds to fulfill our obligations under international law to the Iraqi people." Snow said this also includes activities undertaken by contractors to the government in support of the humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. The fourth license allows privately funded humanitarian activities by U.S. groups that are not "specifically in support of U.S. government objectives," Snow said.
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