Russia Warns Against Pressure on Weapons Inspectors

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 21, 2003

Russia Warns Against Pressure on Weapons Inspectors

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Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Thursday warned against "exerting pressure on the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq," while calling on Baghdad to provide full cooperation with the inspectors and show "maximum openness."

"According to our information, strong pressure is being exerted on international inspectors to force them to discontinue their operations in Iraq, or to pressure them into coming up with assessments that would justify the use of force," Ivanov told a press conference.

The international community "is interested in getting impartial information about the state of affairs in Iraq," said the minister.

He urged the inspectors to "objectively fulfill their professional duty" and the international community "to give them political support."

"The faster we receive concrete results from the international inspectors' activities, the greater the chances of a political settlement of the situation," he said.

Ivanov also expressed confidence that the Iraqi crisis could be settled on the basis of U.N. Security Council resolution 1441. Buthe said that "in strict accordance with this resolution, Baghdad should provide all necessary cooperation to the international inspectors and show maximum openness."

The minister said it was premature to discuss Moscow's reaction to a possible new Security Council resolution on Iraq, but he said Russia had not given up its right to a veto.

"Currently, there is no draft resolution at the UN Security Council so there is no basis to discuss the possible use of the veto power," Ivanov said, "All permanent members of the UN Security Council have the right to veto, including Russia. But each has to show its responsibility in exercising this right."

Russia, which has veto power in the UN Security Council, has consistently voiced against military operation in Iraq and has pushed for the extension of U.N. weapons inspectors' work.

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