Belarus Co-Operates with Iraq in Strict Compliance with International Norms
(on the information from Reuters)

BELARUS FOREIGN MINISTRY

September 24, 2002

Co-operation with Iraq is carried out exclusively within the framework of the correspondent resolutions of the UN Security Council known as the Oil in exchange for foodstuffs program, spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Office Pavel Latushka said on Monday.

"All shipments of Belarusian goods undergo the approval procedure at the UN Committee on Sanctions and are not carried out in any other way", remarked Mr. Latushka and stressed that co-operation with Iraq is realized in strict compliance with international norms.

"Earlier Belarusian Foreign Office addressed to the embassies of USA, Israel, Poland in Minsk with request to present facts about alleged illegal trade of Belarus with Iraq about what was reported referring to the sources in these countries. At present time we don't receive any factual confirmation of this information. These accusations applying Belarus are far-fetched".

This is the way the Foreign Office provided its comment on the material published by The Observer, according to which Iraq purchases from Belarus the banned by the UN equipment that can be used for the creation of nuclear arms.