June 20, 2000
Iraq said Tuesday it has accepted the renewal of the U.N. oil-for-food programme for another six months.
"The extension of the programme from one phase to another is only a routine procedure accepted by Iraq and the United Nations," said Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al Sahaf, as quoted by the weekly al Rafidain.
It was Baghdad's first response to the U.N. approval on June 8 of the eight phase of the oil-for-food programme.
The programme was created in 1996 to allow Iraq to sell oil under the U.N. supervision to buy food, medical supplies and basic commodities for the Iraqi population under an economic embargo since Baghdad's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Sahaf also said Iraq will continue patiently to fight until the sanctions are completely lifted. dpa ap eg