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Russian FM Visits Iraq to Boost Relations
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov arrived in Baghdad November 13, becoming the first Russian foreign minister to visit the country since 1994.
Upon arrival, Ivanov told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that during the visit, he will hold talks with Iraqi leaders and officials on a number of issues, including means to boost bilateral relations "in all fields." He will also convey a letter, concerning bilateral ties and the current situation in the Middle East, to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He reiterated Russia's call for lifting the decade-old UN sanctions on Iraq. "It is time to end the sanctions and stop the suffering of the Iraqi people."
Russia, a key ally and the most important trade partner of Iraq, has been appealing for removal of the sanctions on Iraq, which were imposed for its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly said that it is willing to play a mediating role to end the standstill between Baghdad and UN weapons inspectors.
Iraq has been refusing to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors since December 1998 when the United States and Britain launched air strikes against Iraq.
It rejected the UN Security Council resolution 1284 on December 17 last year aiming at resuming the arms inspections by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).
Under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the crippling economic sanctions can not be lifted until the UN arms inspectors certify that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction.
Iraq is the first leg of Ivanov's Middle East tour, which will also take him to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait.
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