Question: Please comment on the reports that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has not ruled out, with certain conditions, the possibility of cooperation by Iraq with the United Nations on the basis of a new Security Council resolution.

Answer: That approach of the Iraqi leadership generally deserves a positive assessment. In our opinion, it is yet another proof of the preparedness of Baghdad to cooperate with the international community for the purpose of definitively clearing up the matters relating to Iraq's prohibited military programs.

And for this purpose, as is known, it is necessary to ensure the speediest possible renewal in Iraq of inspection and monitoring activity by the UN and IAEA.

If, however, for the return of international inspectors the adoption of a new resolution is required, as some Council members believe, we are prepared to continue agreeing its mutually acceptable text.

At the same time, the Russian side stills considers that a new decision of the UN Security Council on Iraq must be most clearly formulated, realistic, implementable and not containing provisions opening the way to an automatic use of force against Baghdad.