Interview of the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov for Russian and Foreign Media upon Arrival in New York to Attend the Special Session of the UN Security Council on Terrorism

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

January 19, 2003

A special session of the Security Council at the level of foreign ministers devoted solely to the problem of fighting terrorism will be held in New York on January 20.

After the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, the US has carried out a large amount of work to unite the efforts of the international community in the struggle against that evil of the 21st century. A global anti-terrorist coalition acting under the aegis of the UN has been formed. The Security Council has taken a number of important resolutions on the basis of which a unique mechanism, a Counter-Terrorism Committee, was set up to monitor compliance of all the states with their obligations in the anti-terrorist field. A major seedbed of international terrorism in Afghanistan has been liquidated. It can be said that the world has united in the struggle against a common enemy.

At the same time it would be too early to speak about a complete victory over terrorism. Rather, we are at the beginning of a very complicated road. The series of terrorist acts that have recently swept the world, including those perpetrated in Moscow, attest that terrorism has by no means been crushed.

That is why it is necessary to strengthen coordination of the efforts of the international community in the struggle against terrorism, to develop and improve their legal framework. The Security Council will gather to address that task.

It is a matter of principle that the UN Security Council should unambiguously confirm that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations represents one of the most serious threats to peace and security. The task of preventing and stopping acts of terrorism with the use of mass destruction weapons is moving to the fore. It is necessary to build up efforts to fight the financing of terrorism. The UN Security Council must reaffirm its commitment to punishing terrorists on the basis of the principle "extradite or try". It is important to continue a determined struggle against the root causes of terrorism. And the entire work in the anti-terrorism area should be conducted strictly within international law.

The background to this work must be provided by a deepening dialogue between civilizations, and prevention of a clash between different religions and cultures.

It is important that the world become aware that responses to common threats and challenges can only be found together.

It is necessary to bring home to the world public the principle of inadmissibility of a relapse into "double standards". Terrorism is an absolute evil and the attitude to terrorists must be the same everywhere -- be it in the US, the Middle East, Europe or Chechnya. There can be no justification to acts of terrorism.

All these fundamental provisions, which are exceptionally important in making the fight against terrorism more effective, must be elaborated in the course of the coming meeting of the UN Security Council.

Question: Igor Sergeyevich, can you say a few words about the meeting with Colin Powell? What will be its topic?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We are to have several bilateral meetings, including with the US Secretary of State. We will consider some topical bilateral issues, exchange opinions on some topical international problems -- naturally, Iraq, North Korea and some other issues.

Question: Do you have anything concrete to say about Iraq?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: As for Iraq, we look forward to the UN Security Council meeting on January 27 when reports by the heads of UNMOVIC and IAEA Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei will be heard. We believe that during these past two months serious work has been done and of course the tasks facing UNMOVIC and the IAEA require that this work continue. So, we should see what else the UN Security Council can do so that this work continues effectively, so that the international inspectors could provide a clear answer to the question that has been put, namely, does or doesn't Iraq have mass destruction weapons? and, proceeding from this, to work toward compliance with other UN Security Council resolutions.

Question: Will we come out for an extension of the mandate of the inspectors?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: No extension of the mandate is required. There is Resolution 1441, there is Resolution 1284 formulating the steps that should be taken for the work of the international inspectors. And these resolutions must be complied with.

Question: Igor Sergeyevich, Condoleezza Rice said today that a very important decision is expected after January 27. She said it in passing, but obviously she meant the start of military actions.

Foreign Minister Ivanov: In our view, political and diplomatic resources for settling the situation around Iraq are far from exhausted. To the contrary, we believe that the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1441 by the UN Security Council has confirmed that the international community is aware of the need for political settlement. It follows from Resolution 1441. We have achieved the main thing, the return of international inspectors. They have been working for two months already and the international inspectors should be allowed to continue their responsible mission.