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Russia underscores Iraq problem not to be solved by force
Moscow, July 08: Russia underscored its opposition today to armed intervention in Iraq, praising recent talks between UN and Iraqi officials as making progress despite the lack of an agreement on a return of arms inspectors.
Moscow, July 08: Russia underscored its opposition
today to armed intervention in Iraq, praising recent talks
between UN and Iraqi officials as making progress despite the
lack of an agreement on a return of arms inspectors.
"The Iraqi problem can be resolved only through a political and diplomatic process in compliance with resolutions of the UN Security Council," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Any other options, particularly the use of force, are absolutely unacceptable", it said.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan failed at a meeting last week in Vienna, Austria, to get Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri to agree to the return of arms inspectors, who have been barred from Iraq for 3 1/2 years.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, noted that the sides had agreed to future meetings. It expressed optimism, citing a smaller agreement that was reached on how to return Kuwait's national archives, which were looted after Iraq's 1990 invasion of its tiny, oil-rich neighbor.
"The Iraqi problem can be resolved only through a political and diplomatic process in compliance with resolutions of the UN Security Council," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Any other options, particularly the use of force, are absolutely unacceptable", it said.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan failed at a meeting last week in Vienna, Austria, to get Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri to agree to the return of arms inspectors, who have been barred from Iraq for 3 1/2 years.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, noted that the sides had agreed to future meetings. It expressed optimism, citing a smaller agreement that was reached on how to return Kuwait's national archives, which were looted after Iraq's 1990 invasion of its tiny, oil-rich neighbor.
Russia has supported Iraq's push for lifting UN economic
sanctions, which were imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in
1990, in hopes that Baghdad could start paying off its dlrs 7
billion soviet-era debt and expand trade. The UN sanctions can
be lifted only after international inspectors certify that
Iraq has eliminated its weapons of mass destruction.
Russian oil companies are actively participating in the
reconstruction of Iraq's oil infrastructure and stand to reap
significant benefits if UN sanctions are completely lifted.
Bureau Report