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Russia to send diplomats back to Baghdad
Moscow, June 03: Russia is to send its diplomats back to Iraq despite a US statement that it will not recognise the diplomatic status and immunity of foreign diplomats in Iraq accredited by the prewar regime, a foreign ministry spokesman said today.
Moscow, June 03: Russia is to send its diplomats back
to Iraq despite a US statement that it will not recognise the
diplomatic status and immunity of foreign diplomats in Iraq
accredited by the prewar regime, a foreign ministry spokesman
said today.
"Russia will in the near future send to Baghdad its
Embassy staff who worked there and left because of the
military activity. The decision to resume full diplomatic
service was taken not just to ensure our presence in the
country but also to provide assistance to Russian firms
returning to the Iraqi market," Alexander Yakovenko said in a
statement.
Russia evacuated most of its staff from the Embassy days
before US forces launched strikes against Iraq on March 20.
The spokesman stressed that Russia would exercise its right under UN Security Council resolution 1483, which last month ended UN sanctions on Iraq, "to play an equal part with other countries in the restoration of Iraq."
Russia "expects the occupying powers in Iraq to ensure, in line with international legal norms, the status and security of foreign diplomatic missions working in Baghdad," Yakovenko said.
It did not, however, clarify what the exact status of foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq - which are considered part of the sovereign territory of the country that owns or leases the property - would be. Bureau Report
The spokesman stressed that Russia would exercise its right under UN Security Council resolution 1483, which last month ended UN sanctions on Iraq, "to play an equal part with other countries in the restoration of Iraq."
Russia "expects the occupying powers in Iraq to ensure, in line with international legal norms, the status and security of foreign diplomatic missions working in Baghdad," Yakovenko said.
It did not, however, clarify what the exact status of foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq - which are considered part of the sovereign territory of the country that owns or leases the property - would be. Bureau Report