CONFIDENTIAL
122)
117201
MDHIAN 4931
HKB 020126
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 24060OZ FCO
TELNO 586
OF 240634Z AUGUST 1990
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, BAGHDAD, AMMAN, ROME, ESC LONDON, INFO IMMEDIATE UKDEL OECD, UKREP BRUSSELS
IRAQ/KUWAIT: SANCTIONS: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
SUMMARY
1. IRAQ ASKS WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION FOR SUBSTANTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES. NEED TO CHECK WHAT LEGAL ADVICE IS BEING GIVEN TO UN SPECIALISED AGENCIES BY NEW YORK ON HUMANITARIAN RELIEF UNDER SCR
661
DETAIL
2. NAKAJIMA, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, TOLD ME TODAY THAT IRAQ HAD PUT IN NUMEROUS REQUESTS TO WHO FOR EXTRA MEDICAL SUPPLIES. HE ADDED THAT WHEN HIS LEGAL ADVISER HAD TELEPHONED HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER IN NEW YORK (PRESUMABLY FLEISCHAUER OR ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES) TO ASK HOW THEY WERE DEFINING THE HUMANITARIAN EXCEPTION IN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 661, THE UN LEGAL ADVISER HAD SAID THAT THERE WAS OF COURSE NO DIFFICULTY ABOUT MEDICINES. FOR FOOD, THEY RECKONED LUXURY ITEMS SUCH AS CHAMPAGNE AND CAVIAR SHOULD BE BARRED BUT THAT REGULAR FOODSTUFFS SUCH AS GRAIN AND MEAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
3. NAKAJIMA SAID THAT JORDAN HAD ALSO ASKED FOR CONSIDERABLE QUANTITIES OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES INCLUDING SURGICAL ITEMS WHICH DID NOT SEEM DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO CARE OF PERSONS DISPLACED FROM IRAQ/KUWAIT.
COMMENT
4. THE STORY ABOUT FLEISCHAUER'S OPINION MAY HAVE GOT GARBLED IN THE TELLING BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH CHECKING WHAT ADVICE IS BEING GIVEN BY NEW YORK EG TO FAO OR WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME ON HOW TO TREAT ANY IRAQI REQUEST FOR SUPPLIES. THERE MAY BE SOME RISK THAT ANY SURGICAL SUPPLIES WHO SENT TO JORDAN MAY FIND THEIR WAY TO IRAQ, GIVEN KING HUSSEIN'S PUBLIC STAND OF MAINTAINING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ.
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