Wednesday 05 February 2003 Small nations in the spotlight over Iraq  | The US will probably soon ask the UN Security Council to vote for a resolution supporting war against Iraq. The US will need 9 votes out of 15 to get the resolution it wants. Does this mean some Council members will come under pressure to vote in favour? This report from Greg Barrow. |
 Listen to the story Although there's no clear evidence that political pressures are being applied yet, some of the council's smaller nations like Guinea, Cameroon and Angola are bracing themselves. 43" No single nation wants to be put in the spotlight as the swing vote that could give the United States the nine votes it requires to get a new resolution through.
In the run-up to the last Gulf War, intense pressure was applied to nations that held important votes. Non-permanent members like Yemen, that voted against a key Security Council resolution authorising force against Iraq, found themselves punished economically by the US and had aid packages cut off. Others were rewarded with new aid initiatives for their 'yes' votes.
Greg Barrow, BBC Listen to the words pressures are being applied if you apply pressure, you try to make someone do something the council The Security Council is a UN committee which exists to settle international disputes bracing themselves preparing themselves for something difficult in the spotlight if you are in the spotlight, everyone is watching you swing vote here, a country which has not yet chosen how to vote get a new resolution through if you get a resolution through, you ask for a yes-vote and get it In the run-up to in the time just before held important votes if you hold a vote, you are allowed to vote authorising officially allowing cut off stopped  Read more about this story | |  | | | SEARCH IN LEARNING ENGLISH | | | |
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