Russia reiterates opposition to using force against Iraq

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 07, 2002

Russia reiterates opposition to using force against Iraq

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday reiterated Moscow's opposition to possible military attacks against Iraq when speaking by telephone to U.S. President George W.Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In a phone conversation with Bush, Putin "expressed serious doubts regarding the grounds for the use of force in relation to Iraq, in terms of both international law and global politics," the Kremlin spokesman Alexei Gromov said.

Putin underscored the need to coordinate political and diplomatic efforts in implementing existing U.N. Security Council resolutions on Iraq, said Gromov.

Talking to Blair, Putin said he sees adequate possibility for apolitical solution to the Iraqi problem.

Putin also expressed doubts that the use of force against Iraq would be in line with international law. The use of force could have negative effect on the situation in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East and could cause a split in the international anti-terrorism coalition, Gromov cited the president as saying.

Gromov said Putin and Blair agreed to take similar lines on Iraq, both insisting the returning to Baghdad of international inspectors as well as the creation of a monitoring mechanism in the Arab country under the U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Gromov said both Bush and Blair called Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where he is on vacation. Analysts believe the talks are part of an effort to help Washington drum up international support for an attack against Iraq.

On the same day, Russian top foreign officials also echoed President Putin by urging for a political settlement to the Iraqi conflict.

"We believe a policy of diplomatic steps and decisions might allow us to find a long-term settlement of the situation around Iraq, which would meet the interests of regional stability," Ivanov said after meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Laszlo Kovacs.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said he hoped Russia would not have to exercise its veto right on the use of force against Iraq in the 57th U.N. General Assembly due to start next week in New York.

"The Russian delegation expects that the issue of a military operation will not be raised in the Security Council and that we will not have to make a decision on it," he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

President Bush has named Iraq as part of an "axis of evil" and warned of a military strike against the country for its alleged development of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Russia Speaks Against US Strike Against Iraq

Russia Reiterates Opposition to Military Operation against Iraq

>> Full Coverage

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)