On March 20, 2003, the Republic of Iraq was subjected to massive missile-bomb strikes by the armed forces of the United States of America, Britain and their allies. There are numerous human casualties, a vital infrastructure is being destroyed, and a threat to peace and security is being created not only in the Middle East region, but also beyond it. There still remain Russian citizens in Iraq, about whose fate the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is extremely concerned.

The actions of the coalition have done serious harm to the efforts of the world community for a political settlement of the conflict in the Persian Gulf zone and for liquidating the Iraqi potential of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means. Such a development of events, against which the Russian Federation had taken a consistent and resolute stand, arouses profound concern. By launching this military action, the USA, Britain and their allies have violated the Charter of the United Nations, the universally accepted principles and norms of international law and the rules of responsible behavior of states in the world arena. In essence, there has greatly suffered the entire system of maintaining international peace and security, of which the UN Security Council is the central element.

Russia had exerted persistent efforts in order to assist the speediest possible politico-diplomatic resolution of the situation around the Republic of Iraq. The potential for a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis was far from exhausted. This was borne out, in particular, by the successful course in the recent period of cooperation between the Republic of Iraq and the UN.

The Government of the Republic of Iraq was consistently complying with the requirements of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 (2002) by submitting to the UN Security Council data on its programs for the development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as well as delivery systems for such weapons. The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission had received unimpeded access to any sites in the territory of the Republic of Iraq and had discovered no evidences of the existence in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction or intentions to develop and manufacture them. Despite this, throughout the inspection period the US had made groundless charges against the Republic of Iraq, making its own interpretation of the inspection results and substituting itself for the United Nations.

The start of the military actions of the United States of America, Britain and their allies against the Republic of Iraq undermines the system of international relations and institutions and creates a threat to international stability.

In view of the foregoing, the State Duma calls upon UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the UN Security Council immediately to give a principled assessment to the military action of the USA, Britain and their allies and to do everything possible for a resolution of the situation around the Republic of Iraq by peaceful methods.

The State Duma supports the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation, directed to a politico-diplomatic resolution of the situation around the Republic of Iraq. At present it has become obvious that the USA ignores all peaceful methods for resolving this situation to suit its geopolitical and economic interests and military ambitions.

Considering that the developments in the Middle East affect the national security of the Russian Federation, the State Duma approaches President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with the proposals to:

- raise in the UN Security Council the question of the introduction into Iraq of armed forces of UN member states to restore and maintain peace and to disengage the belligerents;

- initiate the convocation of a special session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the question of the aggression of the USA, Britain and their allies against a sovereign state and a member of the UN - the Republic of Iraq - and of the postwar political and socioeconomic reconstruction of Iraq under the aegis of the UN.

The deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation cannot remain indifferent to the new large-scale military conflict and call upon the USA, Britain and their allies immediately to put an end to military actions, to show restraint and prudence and not to allow the further escalation of the conflict, fraught with tragic consequences not only for the solution of the Iraq problem, but also for international stability. The deputies of the State Duma are convinced that the solution of the Iraq problem is possible only by peaceful methods on the basis of the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The State Duma calls upon the parliaments of the states of the world to come out in defense of a politico-diplomatic resolution of the situation around the Republic of Iraq and to support the efforts of the United Nations in this direction.

The actions of the United States of America, Britain and their allies against the Republic of Iraq have created a military-political situation which is potentially threatening the national security of the Russian Federation. This demands that the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation should take urgent measures to bolster its defense capability.

In this connection the State Duma suggests that President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation should submit before June 1, 2003, their proposals for the adjustment of the 2003 federal budget with respect to the increase of the financing for expenditures envisaged by the Federal Law On the 2003 Federal Budget in the National Defense section of the functional classification of budget expenditures of the Russian Federation to 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and for the use of the additional resources for the accelerated modernization of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and for providing them with up-to-date military equipment. Beginning in 2004, to envisage the annual allocation of resources for the financing of these expenditures at no less than 3.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The State Duma approaches President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation with the proposal to render humanitarian assistance to the peaceful inhabitants of the Republic of Iraq.