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Dear all
My reading of the situation is that Russia is avoiding committing itself
to a veto, has been trying to intimidate US/UK into withdrawing their
drafts to avoid having to veto, and is probably uncomfortable with the
idea of vetoing.
As paraphrased in this Reuters story, the Russians are saying they
'cannot support' the resolution. This could mean an abstention rather
than a vote against/veto.
The US/UK seem determined to go to a vote - will Moscow content
itself with a 'good' resolution, strong statements and an abstention?
On the US side, there have been reports of a certain half-
heartedness, and for the Cheney/Rumsfeld axis, primarily interested
in the military options, seeing Colin Powell lose out big on one of his
flagship projects would be beneficial to their strengthening hold on
foreign policy.
They might see the demise of this softly softly negotiated path as a
good thing for their NMD-tough guy approach to things.
Not knowing what's going to happen 3 July adds a certain flavour to
preparations for this weekend's conference in London.
Cheers
Mil
Reuters (Yahoo) story Wednesday June 27 10:39 AM ET
Russia Says Its Proposal Can Solve Iraq Arms Dispute
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010627/wl/iraq_un_russia_d
c_1.html
Russia Says Its Proposal Can Solve Iraq Arms Dispute
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A top Russian diplomat said on
Wednesday that Moscow's resolution calling for the
gradual lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iraq was the only
way to produce a long-term solution to the West's
dispute with Baghdad.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ordzhonikidze was
speaking to Interfax news agency hours after Russia
rejected a U.S.-British proposal to revamp the
sanctions, in force since Iraq's 1990 invasion of
Kuwait.
The statement also coincided with a meeting between
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and a European Union (new
- web sites) envoy on the Middle East. A Russian
emissary later announced he would undertake a new tour
of Middle East nations.
Ordzhonikidze told Interfax there was no alternative t
the Russian resolution, submitted during Tuesday's
Security Council debate, ``if we are interested in
securing a long-term settlement to the Iraqi problem.'
He said Russia could not support the Anglo-American
proposal, which called for an overhaul of the terms of
the humanitarian oil-for-food plan under which Iraq is
allowed to export oil and buy supplies under U.N.
supervision.
``We cannot agree with such a draft resolution,'' he
said. ''In essence, it freezes the current state of
affairs, maintaining sanctions with unacceptable
consequences for Iraq's people and economy in the
absence of any progress on disarmament.''
Ordzhonikidze said Russia was concerned that the
``smart sanctions'' outlined in the U.S.-British
proposal could hurt the economies of many countries,
including Russia. Moscow, he said, intended to press o
with the draft at the United Nations (news - web
sites), where a July 3 deadline has been set for the
U.S.-British proposal.
The Anglo-American draft would ease U.N. controls on
civilian goods entering Iraq and tighten enforcement o
military supplies. It would also try to stem Iraq's
smuggling routes.
Tuesday's debate has left the Security Council at an
impasse. Diplomats expected an extension of the curren
sanctions regime on July 3, but are uncertain for how
long and whether any changes would be introduced.
Russian ambassador Sergei Lavrov told the Security
Council that the Anglo-American resolution ``cannot go
through.''
``The deeper we go into detail, the greater the doubts
we have that this draft is workable...in terms of a
long-term Iraqi settlement,'' Lavrov said.
A Foreign Ministry statement said Russia and the
European Union believed tension had eased in the Middl
East. They called for ``further efforts for its
normalization,'' based on the plan drafted by former
U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
Russian envoy Andrei Vdovin told Interfax he would
leave on Thursday for a trip including stops in Israel
the Palestinian Authority (news - web sites), Egypt an
Jordan. He would remain in the region ``as long as
necessary.''
Vdovin undertook a Middle East trip earlier this month
and Ivanov has also toured the region in recent months.
ENDS
Milan Rai
Joint Coordinator, Voices in the Wilderness UK
milanrai@btinternet.com
29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea East Sussex UK TN38 0HE
Phone/fax 0845 458 9571 local rate within UK
Phone/fax 44 1424 428 792 from outside UK
Pager 07623 746 462
Voices website http://viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
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