PRESS CONFERENCE BY IGOR IVANOV
FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

January 24, 2003

Excerpts

Foreign Minister Ivanov:

...

As far as the Iraqi settlement is concerned, Russia is for the strict implementation by all of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions; above all, Resolution 1441. The international community must have a clear answer to the question whether weapons of mass destruction exist in Iraq or there are none there. If they do, then they must be liquidated. If they are not there, then we must, in line with the UN Security Council resolutions, move along the path of lifting the sanctions on Iraq. This position of Russia arises from the appropriate UNSC resolutions. We intend to firmly adhere to this approach in the future as well.

We are of the view that in the past two months the international inspectors of UNMOVIC and IAEA have done considerable and useful work in Iraq. On January 27 at a meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations we will hear the reports of Mr. Hans Blix and Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei on the work done, and most importantly on what they have yet to do in order to perform their mission in full. We hold that the work of the international inspectors has to be continued, and that the international community should render the inspectors all the necessary assistance. The leadership of Iraq is obliged to actively cooperate with the international inspectors and give them all the required information and assistance so that they can accomplish their tasks.

At the same time, I would like to stress that of late, especially during the last few days, we've seen pressure being increasingly brought to bear on the international inspectors. That pressure might create additional difficulties in their work, whereas we need objective information and only on the basis of objective information can we draw appropriate conclusions.

I want to recall that about 250 international officials are working in Iraq right now; they represent about 60 states of the world. Of them, 110 are inspectors who have received adequate training and are professionally carrying out their mission. All the states which have some additional information in possession should submit it to the inspectors for examination and due accounting in their work. We feel that, by acting in this manner, we will be able to resolve the complicated Iraqi situation by political means. Russia presumes that it is political measures that will help us solve this problem and will constitute an important element in the further expansion of international cooperation in dealing with other complex problems, in the first place the struggle against international terrorism and the settlement of other local regional conflicts. Yet it is perfectly clear that any unilateral force-based action in circumvention of the UN Security Council can render not only the resolution of the Iraqi situation more difficult, but also have an adverse effect on international cooperation in fighting common threats and challenges and on other regional conflicts. Therefore we once again underscore the importance of preserving the unity of the international community, unity within the UN Security Council. We unanimously adopted Resolution 1441 and demonstrated to the entire world that in the most complicated situations we can act together and in a coordinated manner. That's what is a guarantee of success.

...

Question: In the light of the present-day work of the international inspectors, will the United States insist on the adoption of a new resolution on Iraq, implying the use of force? Will Russia exercise its right of veto?...

Foreign Minister Ivanov: As I've already noted, we hold that the international inspectors have in the two months carried out very big and useful work. Generally, judging by the information we have in hand today, they did not encounter any serious problems obstructing the performance of their mission. So we feel that following the report of Blix and ElBaradei it is necessary to continue the inspectors' work. It is necessary, furthermore, to rely not only on Resolution 1441, but also on Resolution 1284, which fixes the procedure for further work of the inspectors. We today see no serious arguments which would permit raising the question of the use of force. Therefore we regard consideration of this matter in the Security Council as unwarranted. I repeat we hope that in the form in which you put this point, it will not be submitted to the Security Council. Moreover, I can tell you that the opinion prevails in the Council which I have told you about right now. This is not only the position of Russia, but also the position of many other members of the UN Security Council.

...

Question: For what period of time do you think the timeframe of activity of the international inspectors in Iraq should be prolonged?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: Hopefully, the UNMOVIC and IAEA heads, Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei, are due to give an answer to this question in the first place. We should listen to their opinion in fixing the inspectors' period of activity. By all appearances, the inspectors of IAEA will require less time; the UNMOVIC inspectors more time, given the complex nature of the tasks in which they are engaged. But I repeat that we will very carefully listen to the opinion of the chief inspectors. We shall be guided in arriving at a decision by the appraisals that will be given by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei.

...

In conclusion I would like to recall that a foreign ministers meeting was held on January 20 at the UN Security Council in New York to examine the questions of the struggle against international terrorism. We were all unanimous in the view that this is our common problem, and that only by acting in coordination shall we be able to achieve success in this formidable task of combating new threats and challenges. We unanimously adopted a joint declaration which calls for expanding cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism. I have mentioned this in order to once again stress that only by acting in coordination, through the Security Council and outside it, shall we be able to deal with the most complicated problems, including the problem of Iraq, and other regional issues. I agree with Javier Solana that in approach to an Iraqi settlement we have a common aim and no disagreement. We want to ensure that in that country there are no weapons of mass destruction, nor potential for their production. This task has been determined by the United Nations Security Council, and we all agree that it has to be accomplished. Should differences arise as to how this is to be done, it is necessary to overcome them and not to allow those differences to lead to a split in the international community. I am certain that what the various extremist and terrorist organizations are just waiting for is that a conflict would now arise between the United States and Europe, between Russia and the United States and between China and somebody else. That's where they stand to gain because in such an international chaos it is easier for them to achieve their aims. The international community ought to demonstrate its unity before these common threats and challenges, and if we can do that, then we shall achieve success in solving the Iraq and other problems now confronting us.