Russia Urges Political Solution to Iraq Issue

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 27, 2002

Russia Urges Political Solution to Iraq Issue

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov on Thursday reiterated Moscow's opposition to unilateral military operation against Iraq, saying the crucially important task is to "move the Iraq situation into a channel of political-diplomatic settlement."

The world community should "adhere to a comprehensive approach to an Iraqi settlement," which envisages the full cooperation on the part of Iraq, the fulfillment of UN Security Council resolutions and the clarification of remaining questions about weapons of mass destruction, said the minister.

Only this complex approach could lead to a long-term settlementof the Iraq problem, he added.

He said that the international community currently had no proofof a link between the Iraqi regime and international terror organizations. "Nobody has been able to provide any evidence of this link," he added.

Russia is opposed to a unilateral US military intervention against Iraq. Washington has threatened such an intervention if Baghdad is considered to be in material breach of UN Security Council resolution 1441, which orders Iraq to completely give up weapons of mass destruction.

Only the UN Security Council has the right to give a sanction for the use of force, and this may be done only after the council reviews the reports of international weapons inspectors, said Fedotov.

The Security Council "must rule on its own whether Iraq is complying with resolution 1441, and whether it is in breach of this document or not," Fedotov said.

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