From DECLAN MCKENNA
Sir, - 'The international community has got to find some alternative means to sanctions'. This refreshingly direct statement emerged in the course of an interview with the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq, Denis Halliday (February 25th), who described the awful effects of the UN sanctions on the people of Iraq. He is quite right, of course, as sanctions invariably effect civilian populations. However, there are very few UN sanctions in force.
Most other trade sanctions are unilaterally imposed by the United States. Your readers may be aware of sanctions against Iran, Libya and North Korea, for instance, but this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Depending on the source of information there are between 53 and 75 countries directly affected by US sanctions, affecting between 43 per cent and 50 per cent of the world's population. The US National Association of Industrial Executives has stated that from 1993 to 1996, the US imposed 61 economic sanctions against 35 countries. In addition, there are 40 similar measures directed against 18 countries by state and local governments.
While some of these sanctions relate strictly to trading arrangements, others are politically motivated and most breach international law. Who knows what suffering is being caused to civilian populations throughout the world, as a result of such unilateral and mostly illegal sanctions imposed by the United States? - Yours, etc.,
Co-ordinator, Cuba Support Group, Ireland, 15 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.