Russia Seeks 'Diplomatic Solution' to Iraqi Crisis

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 17, 2003

Russia Seeks 'Diplomatic Solution' to Iraqi Crisis

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said on Thursday in Baghdad that Russia is committed to finding a "diplomatic solution" to the Iraqi crisis, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

Saltanov, who arrived in Baghdad late Wednesday leading a delegation that also includes Deputy Energy Minister Ivan Matlashovand the heads of some top companies, made the remarks in his meeting with Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan.

"Saltanov said Russia has fixed stance towards the Iraqi crisis, which is to continue to exert every effort to reach a diplomatic solution and to ensure Iraq's national unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty," INA reported.

For his part, Ramadan promised that Iraq gives Russian companies the priority in its current and future contracts and projects.

INA said Saltanov, in his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Wednesday night shortly after arriving, also stressed the need for UN arms inspectors to continue their work and praised the "positive spirit of cooperation from Iraq."

Upon arrival at Baghdad's Saddam International Airport, Saltanov told reporters the delegation members "are here to seize any chance to achieve and find a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Iraq issue and to avoid military scenarios."

Asked if he was carrying an official message for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Saltanov said "these are only consultations, (and) there is no special message."

"The important thing is to exchange views on the situation in Iraq and the region," the Russian envoy added.

The United States accuses Saddam's regime of secretly developing weapons of mass destruction and is pouring tens of thousands of troops into the Gulf region to back up its threats to disarm Baghdad by force.

While denying US allegation that it has prohibited weapons, Iraq has accepted UN Security Council Resolution 1441 that provides for a tougher weapons inspection regime in the country.

The UN weapons experts resumed their hunting for prohibited weapons of mass destruction in Iraq on Nov. 27 after a four-year suspension and have so far searched more than 400 suspected sites.

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