#7 - RW 272
Russia May Send Peacekeepers To Iraq
September 4, 2003
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

MOSCOW (AP)--Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Thursday that Russia may send peacekeepers to Iraq as part of an international force, a strong signal that Moscow was edging closer to Washington in efforts to rebuild Iraq.

"Outright, I do not reject it or rule it out," Ivanov said in televised comments during military maneuvers in the southern Astrakhan region, when asked whether Moscow might contribute peacekeepers. He reiterated Russia's demand for a central U.N. role in postwar Iraq.

"Everything depends on the unity of opinion in the U.N. Security Council; on to what degree the United Nations will really be able to influence the development of the situation in Iraq," Ivanov said.

Ivanov said Russia's decisions would hinge on discussions in the U.N. Security Council on a new U.S.-proposed draft resolution that would give the U.N. a greater role. "It all depends on the specific resolution," the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

The statements, which precede a planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the U.S. later this month, appeared to be an attempt to bolster ties with Washington, badly hurt by a rift over the war in Iraq, while keeping up the pressure for a stronger U.N. role in postwar affairs.

The U.S. wants the U.N. to vote soon on the proposed resolution that would expand the U.N. role in governing Iraq and providing security. The U.S. draft offers the U.N. a greater role in peacekeeping in Iraq, although U.S. commanders will retain control.

Ivanov said the final decision on whether to send Russian peacekeepers "will depend on the unity in the international community, on how fully and scrupulously international legal norms are observed in Iraq," according to Interfax.

On Saturday, Putin set the stage for bargaining with Washington on the resolution, saying that Russia is open to multinational force under U.S. command but that the U.N. role in Iraq must be expanded, particularly on political and economic issues. He said the U.N. must direct the process of democratization and the creation of "legitimate organs of power."

The leaders of Germany and France criticized the U.S. draft resolution Thursday, saying the U.N. should guide Iraq's political reconstruction and that more responsibility must be turned over to Iraqi leaders. Putin has not commented publicly on the draft.

In a cautious statement, the Foreign Ministry said its chief, Igor Ivanov, had exchanged opinions with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell by telephone Wednesday about strengthening the U.N. Security Council role in settling the Iraq situation. It said contacts would continue, suggesting no agreement was reached.

The defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, said Russia is concerned by recent violence in Iraq. "There are many terrorist acts...and terrorists of all kinds are headed to Iraq from other states. All this cannot but disturb us," he said in televised comments.

"Russia is vitally interested in the quickest possible restoration of legitimate authorities and law and order in Iraq," Interfax quoted him as saying.

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Moscow's push for a quick transfer from the U.S.-backed interim administration in Iraq to a sovereign government to help restore peace.

"We believe that only the swiftest creation of representative and internationally recognized power bodies can ensure stabilization of the situation in the country and restoration of its sovereignty," ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said in a statement.

The business daily Kommersant warned that if Russia doesn't back U.S. policy in Iraq it could further damage relations with Washington - already hurt by Kremlin criticism of the war - and deal a strong blow to Moscow's economic interests in Iraq.

"Moscow has to choose whether to remain a bystanding observer and independent critic or get involved into a difficult and dangerous process of peace settlement," Kommersant said. "In the first case we won't get anything, in the second case we may hope to get some dividends."

Moscow wants to get a share of Iraq rebuilding contracts and has pushed for the fulfillment of lucrative oil contracts Russian companies signed with Saddam Hussein's regime and repayment of Baghdad's $8 billion debt to Russia.

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