The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
http://www.nandotimes.com/world/story/477193p-3812436c.html The Associated Press MOSCOW (July 24, 2002 8:47 p.m. EDT) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has urged diplomatic solutions in the Iraqi crisis, warning that the U.N. Security Council was moving to convince the public of the justification for action against the Mideast country. Ivanov told Rossiskaya Gazeta in an interview published Wednesday on the newspaper's Web site that all signs point to increased U.S. activity around Iraq. "I think that in the Security Council, there might be some kind of activity to prepare public opinion for a dangerous turn of events," he said. "But we believe that the political and diplomatic potential for a settlement in Iraq hasn't yet been exhausted." Ivanov acknowledged that Iraq must in the "nearest future" accept U.N. arms inspectors to verify that the country isn't producing weapons of mass destruction. "Iraq should have the prospect of a lifting of the sanctions," he said. The return of inspectors after more than three years is a key demand of the United States, which has accused Iraq of trying to rebuild its banned weapons programs and of supporting terrorism. President Bush has warned Saddam that he faces unspecified consequences if he fails to heed American demands for inspectors to re-enter Iraq. Russia, which has pursued a pro-Western policy since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, also is a longtime ally of Iraq and has supported its push for lifting U.N. economic sanctions in hopes that Baghdad could start paying off its $7 billion Soviet-era debt and expand oil and other trade. - - - - Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk