Breaking sanctions
Greek delegation flies to Iraq
By Sue
Harris
Baghdad, Iraq
A 100-person delegation flew from Athens, Greece, to
Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 10 to protest the sanctions imposed by the
United Nations since August 1990, during the buildup to the
1991 Gulf War. The Olympic Airways flight was the first by a
West European national carrier since sanctions were imposed. By
defying the ban on civilian flights, it constituted a statement
of solidarity with the people of Iraq.
Margarita Papandreou, former first lady of Greece, led the
delegation. The Greek contingent included many parliament
members, journalists, physicians, artists and activists. There
were also contingents from Canada, Britain and the United
States. They included a television crew from Canada's Vision
TV, WBAI-Pacifica Radio journalist Barbara Nimri-Aziz,
journalist/activist Michael Parenti and representatives of the
International Action Center and Peoples Video Network.
The UN Sanctions Committee's many attempts to prevent this
flight were unsuccessful.
When the plane landed at Saddam Hussein Airport in Baghdad,
everyone from the greeters carrying juice and yogurt to the
customs officers welcomed the delegation with terrific warmth.
Felicity Arbuthnot, a long-time British activist against the
sanctions, said she couldn't believe she had actually flown
into Baghdad instead of driving for 12 hours from Amman,
Jordan.
The airfield was almost completely deserted. Parenti noted
that the desolation the delegates saw in this modern airport
was an example of how the sanctions have been used to move a
modern industrial country back in time.
Tariq Aziz addresses delegation
During their brief stay in Baghdad, the group visited
Children's Hospital, the Al Amariya bomb shelter where over a
thousand women and children were killed by U.S. missiles, a
market place and various local landmarks. They met with an
Iraqi women's group and heard an address from Deputy Prime
Minister Tariq Aziz.
The Iraqi minister made it clear that he did not expect
sanctions to be overturned in the UN Security Council. He was
encouraged, however, by the numerous countries that had decided
to open trade relations with Iraq and were flying into Baghdad
in defiance of U.S. and British imperialism.
Aziz said he was also encouraged by the worldwide protests
against the injustices done to the Iraqi people.
Shortly after the Olympic Airways plane landed, a Bulgarian
Airlines charter flight arrived with a delegation led by
British Labor parliament member George Galloway.
Galloway described how he evaded British restrictions. He
chartered a Bulgarian plane to fly to Sofia after checking to
see how they felt about re-routing to Baghdad.
Then, when the plane was flying over Sofia, he radioed in to
change the flight destination to Baghdad and was on his
way.
Sanctions crumbling
A Washington Post editorial reprinted in the Nov. 14
International Herald Tribune reported, "A trade fair in Baghdad
recently drew hundreds of companies from 45 countries, most of
them European." The editorial also reported on recent flights
by Russian, Jordanian and French parliamentarians, journalists
and dignitaries.
The Russian airline Aeroflot has set up regular weekly
flights between Moscow and Baghdad. While the Post editorial
deplored these breakthroughs and advocated a stiffening of the
sanctions, it is clear the sanctions are beginning to
crumble.
On Jan. 11, the International Action Center in the United
States will launch the next Iraq Sanctions Challenge, adding to
the growing tide of people determined to take a stand against
genocide. The IAC and its founder, former U.S. Attorney General
Ramsey Clark, have been leaders in the international
anti-sanctions struggle. For more information on the Iraq
Sanctions Challenge, readers can call the IAC at (212) 633-6646
or visit the Web site www.iacenter.org.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS ::
SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page