#6
Russian security chief says Iraqi problem still allows political solution
ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 6 February: Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo is certain that a political solution of the Iraqi problem is still possible.

"The political and diplomatic resource has not been exhausted yet and international inspectors should continue their work in Iraq," Rushaylo told journalists in Yekaterinburg [Siberia]. He believes the inspectors must present a more objective report to the UN Security Council.

Rushaylo recalled that President Vladimir Putin clearly outlined Moscow's position in a telephone conversation with the US President George W. Bush on 4 February. Among other things Putin emphasized the role of international inspectors in deciding further steps in Iraq.

The State Duma on Thursday [6 February] made a decision to consider on 12 February a draft resolution on the situation involving Iraq, First Deputy Speaker Lyubov Sliska told reporters. The idea was proposed by Deputy Speaker Vladimir Zhirinovskiy. The proposed draft resolution envisages the adoption of a message to the Russian president to instruct Russia's representative in the United Nations to use the right of veto in case of military aggression against Iraq.

The chairman of the Duma international affairs committee Dmitriy Rogozin explained that the Duma could make any resolutions or statements concerning Iraq only after the lawmakers received the full information from Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. He believes US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement in the UN Security Council has produced more questions than answers.

"United States accusations require experts' scrutiny. Some of the charges look incredible, so there can be no immediate response," he said.

Rogozin believes Powell "overdid it" when he said Iraq had tremendous amounts of chemical and biological weapons.

"Russia is reluctant to find itself in opposition to the United States. It wants antiterrorist policies to continue. We advise the United States against taking hasty steps. International inspectors in Iraq should keep working," Rogozin said.

BACK TO THE TOP    #243 CONTENTS    NEXT ARTICLE