Adam
10-12-02, 03:43 AM
Putin agrees on Iraq resolution
From correspondents in Russia
October 12, 2002
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin agreed today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the need for a tough new UN resolution on weapons inspections in Iraq but rejected the threat of force.
After hours of closed-door talks that began yesterday with Blair at this wooded hunting lodge near Moscow, Putin said Russia shared "apprehensions" about Baghdad's suspected nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and thought a deal could be struck on a new UN Security Council resolution.
"We are ready together with our partners to search for ways to ensure the work of (UN weapons) inspectors in Iraq," Putin said.
"With this aim in mind, I do not rule out reaching a joint position (on Iraq), including a UN resolution," he told reporters, admitting that "you need to take account of the negative experience of the work of previous inspectors in Iraq".
But just after the talks ended, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov said Moscow would not accept a US-British draft resolution threatening Iraq with military action if it does not cooperate with weapons inspections.
"The US draft resolution cannot be accepted as a basis for a future UN Security Council resolution on Iraq as it contains clearly unfulfillable demands," Fedotov said.
But on his flight home to London today, Blair was upbeat.
"The next few days and weeks will tell, but my best guess is that we will get the resolution we need," he told reporters travelling with him.
Asked how much longer it would take for the UN Security Council to reach a consensus, Blair replied: "It won't be that long ... I think you'll find things moving quite quickly now."
The Putin-Blair meeting took place as US President George W Bush won authority from the US Congress to go to war against Iraq in resolutions that cited a "continuing threat" posed by Baghdad's alleged weapons buildup.
But despite what were described as warm and informal talks with Bush's closest ally on the Iraqi crisis, Putin made clear the case for military action against Baghdad remained unconvincing.
"Russia does not have in its possession any trustworthy data which would support the existence of nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we have not received from our partners such information as yet," he said.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- are engaged in intense consultations over the framing of a resolution that would require Iraq to abandon its capability for acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
In recent statements, Russian officials have favoured a French suggestion for two UN resolutions -- one setting out tough conditions for Iraqi cooperation with weapons inspectors, and a second threatening force if those conditions are not met.
This represented a departure from Russia's earlier stance in which it had argued that checks on Iraq's weapons program could be effectively launched under the terms of existing UN resolutions.
"It is clear that the positions are getting closer," said Yevgeny Volk, director of the Heritage Foundation research institute in Moscow.
"I think that there are chances for a UN Security Council resolution which will include both Russian interests and American desire to be more tough on Iraq," Volk added.
Russian officials reportedly want assurances from Washington that Moscow's oil contracts in Iraq will be protected if a US-friendly regime is installed in Baghdad.
Putin denied today that he had sought compensation for Russian economic interests in Iraq, saying he did not invite Blair and his wife "to an Oriental bazaar".
Russia, which counts on oil exports to finance 40 per cent of its public spending, fears oil price shocks at a moment when its economy is stabilising.
It is also concerned about collecting an estimated $US8 billion ($A14.67 billion) in debts owed to it by Iraq.
Agence France-Presse
Source. (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5272625%255E1702,00.html)
From correspondents in Russia
October 12, 2002
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin agreed today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the need for a tough new UN resolution on weapons inspections in Iraq but rejected the threat of force.
After hours of closed-door talks that began yesterday with Blair at this wooded hunting lodge near Moscow, Putin said Russia shared "apprehensions" about Baghdad's suspected nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and thought a deal could be struck on a new UN Security Council resolution.
"We are ready together with our partners to search for ways to ensure the work of (UN weapons) inspectors in Iraq," Putin said.
"With this aim in mind, I do not rule out reaching a joint position (on Iraq), including a UN resolution," he told reporters, admitting that "you need to take account of the negative experience of the work of previous inspectors in Iraq".
But just after the talks ended, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov said Moscow would not accept a US-British draft resolution threatening Iraq with military action if it does not cooperate with weapons inspections.
"The US draft resolution cannot be accepted as a basis for a future UN Security Council resolution on Iraq as it contains clearly unfulfillable demands," Fedotov said.
But on his flight home to London today, Blair was upbeat.
"The next few days and weeks will tell, but my best guess is that we will get the resolution we need," he told reporters travelling with him.
Asked how much longer it would take for the UN Security Council to reach a consensus, Blair replied: "It won't be that long ... I think you'll find things moving quite quickly now."
The Putin-Blair meeting took place as US President George W Bush won authority from the US Congress to go to war against Iraq in resolutions that cited a "continuing threat" posed by Baghdad's alleged weapons buildup.
But despite what were described as warm and informal talks with Bush's closest ally on the Iraqi crisis, Putin made clear the case for military action against Baghdad remained unconvincing.
"Russia does not have in its possession any trustworthy data which would support the existence of nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we have not received from our partners such information as yet," he said.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- are engaged in intense consultations over the framing of a resolution that would require Iraq to abandon its capability for acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
In recent statements, Russian officials have favoured a French suggestion for two UN resolutions -- one setting out tough conditions for Iraqi cooperation with weapons inspectors, and a second threatening force if those conditions are not met.
This represented a departure from Russia's earlier stance in which it had argued that checks on Iraq's weapons program could be effectively launched under the terms of existing UN resolutions.
"It is clear that the positions are getting closer," said Yevgeny Volk, director of the Heritage Foundation research institute in Moscow.
"I think that there are chances for a UN Security Council resolution which will include both Russian interests and American desire to be more tough on Iraq," Volk added.
Russian officials reportedly want assurances from Washington that Moscow's oil contracts in Iraq will be protected if a US-friendly regime is installed in Baghdad.
Putin denied today that he had sought compensation for Russian economic interests in Iraq, saying he did not invite Blair and his wife "to an Oriental bazaar".
Russia, which counts on oil exports to finance 40 per cent of its public spending, fears oil price shocks at a moment when its economy is stabilising.
It is also concerned about collecting an estimated $US8 billion ($A14.67 billion) in debts owed to it by Iraq.
Agence France-Presse
Source. (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,5272625%255E1702,00.html)