PRESS RELEASE

Reply by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Fedotov to a Question from an Interfax Correspondent

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

October 16, 2002

Question: There have appeared reports that the UN Security Council will be considering the Iraq question today. Is it borne in mind to adopt a new resolution on Iraq at this meeting?

Answer: Indeed, an open meeting of the UN Security Council will take place in New York today, with more than sixty states having signed up for a chance to speak at it. The initiative of holding such a broad debate belongs to the Non-Aligned Movement. Non-aligned countries are interested in stating their position on basic aspects of the situation around Iraq and ways to resolve it by political means. Russia had actively backed this initiative. We consider that the holding of an open debate will help the UNSC members to make up their minds on further steps.

As to the possibility of the adoption of a new resolution, this isn't likely today. No drafts have been officially introduced in the Council as yet.

As is known, there exists the US version of the draft resolution, which bears a tough and ultimatum-like character. It has undergone no changes and is unacceptable. Russia will not be able to support it. There is the French version of the resolution, which is close to Russia's stand. We share many of its provisions.

In principle, we still see no need for adoption of any new decisions on Iraq. The position of Russia is that Iraq should comply with existing UNSC resolutions, and that the experts of the UN Inspection Mission in Iraq (UNMOVIC) and IAEA should arrive in Iraq as soon as possible. From the legal and technical points of view there are no obstacles to the start of inspections in Iraq.

At the same time, in the course of the unofficial consultations held the day before with the UNSC members the UNMOVIC chief, Hans Blix, spoke in favor of the work on preparation for the deployment of inspections in Iraq beginning only after the Security Council had decided on the need to adopt a new resolution.

Thus, work on a possible new decision on Iraq can begin very soon. In this connection the position of Russia remains unchanged. The possible new resolution on Iraq must embody neither decisions on the automatic use of force nor unrealizable extra demands going beyond the limits of the previous decisions of the UN Security Council.