Back to Baghdad

Ajit Panjaacirc;euro;trade;s visit to Iraq is well-timed. The Ministry of External Affairs is virtually silent about the purpose of his three-day trip and the gist of Atal Bihari Vajpayee8217;s letter delivered by him to Saddam Hussein. The government-controlled Iraqi media on the other hand has plenty to say. In Baghdad, the minister of state for external affairs is being projected as a forerunner for sanctions-busting Indian flights on the lines of French and Russian flights. If so, the MEA should be congratulated for thinking ahead. Moves are on internationally to ease the sanctions regime imposed on Iraq by the UN since 1990, a regime made harsher by the hardline favoured by the US and Britain. Under the Anglo-American interpretation of the embargo on goods and services, even non-commercial flights are proscribed. But this month that interpretation was challenged. Baghdad8217;s complaints about the illegality of the ban on flights and the reservations of several foreign countries about the way the embargo has been implementedwere translated into action. In clear defiance of the American regimen, Baghdad8217;s reopening of its international airport in August was followed by flights from France and Russia. More are expected.

With three members of the Security Council 8212; France, Russia and China 8212; urging that sanctions be ended and two of them now actually crossing the American line, it looks like the beginning of the end of Iraqi sanctions. The Iraqis certainly seem to think so and are calling on their friends to follow suit. India would be well justified in sending a planeload of officials and business people to Baghdad 8212; if it has not done so already. With political pressures pulling the UN sanctions committee both ways it is unable to make a determination on whether the French and Russian flights violate UN sanctions. Even though Washington insists that is the case, in the absence of definite word from the committee, the flights, a symbolic but important political statement, can go on.

This is a critical moment on the sanctions issue. What India decides to do will have a long term impact in West Asia and on its relationship with Iraq, a major oil producer and regional power. The Indian position on sanctions stated with enviable brevity by the MEA is: 8220;India has consistently advocated phased lifting of UN sanctions, in tandem with Iraqi compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions.8221; Ten years on a fair verdict on sanctions would be that whatever could be achieved has been achieved and it is time to lift them. One, a regime change has not and probably cannot be achieved; two, extensive weapons inspections have been completed; three, the overwhelming evidence is sanctions are extracting much too heavy a price from the Iraqi people. India should be able to go along with those urging an end to Iraqi sanctions without having to worry about being misunderstood in Washington. India has substantial economic interests in Iraq. Before the Gulf war these included a 5 billion worth ofconstruction projects and the two countries have signed MOUs in oil exploration and railways which will be acted upon once sanctions are lifted. It would be in India8217;s interests also to urge Iraq to resume settling its outstanding dues with oil exports.