STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

November 14, 2002

Russia welcomes the decision adopted by Iraq's leadership to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1441 specifying the practical modalities for the resumption of international inspection and monitoring activity in the country. We expect this step of Baghdad, fully meeting the demands of the resolution, to lead to the speediest possible return of UNMOVIC and IAEA inspectors to Iraq.

Moscow regards positively the political far-sightedness shown by the Iraqi leadership and believes that the implementation of Resolution 1441 will open the way for a comprehensive politico-diplomatic settlement of the situation around Iraq, including the lifting of sanctions on Iraq, in strict accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

Of special importance in this context is the constructive cooperation of all the parties on whom the implementation of Resolution 1441 depends. The Russian Federation will help to achieve this objective.

It is also important to ensure an unbiased and highly professional character of the international inspectors' work, and the strict accountability and controllability of UNMOVIC and IAEA to the UN Security Council.