INTERVIEW WITH IGOR IVANOV
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

September 25, 2002

Question: Igor Sergeyevich, please comment on the latest statement of British Prime Minister Tony Blair regarding Iraq.

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We've received via diplomatic channels the report concerning weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Now our experts are carefully studying it. Only specialists, I think, can judge whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or not. So we are actively trying to get international inspectors back into Iraq at once. It appears to us that it isn't worthwhile to put up a propaganda fuss around this report, but it's worthwhile to wait until the experts' findings are in. Only after that is it possible draw any conclusions.

Question: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said Russia ought to take its own decision as to what it should do to defend itself and that he will not lecture Russia on this theme. How do you assess this statement?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: A correct statement. Russia took its own decision, and will continue to do so as to its national interests and how best to defend them. Russia has been pursuing a vigorous, constructive, predictable policy. We are interested in further developing broad cooperation with all states in the extent to which they are ready. Therefore, our policy will continue to be vigorous and multivector.

Question: You don't think that this statement attests to a change in the position of the United States, which until then had been quite sharply opposed to any Russian operations in Georgia?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: Just now we in New York and Washington held talks on various issues: on the situation around Iraq and in the Middle East and around Georgia. We well know the positions of other states. So I think that to speak of any radical changes would hardly be justified. Each sovereign state has its own stand. There is the point of view of Russia, which is being stated publicly and, in my opinion, with foundation when we speak of our concern about transborder terrorism from the territory of Georgia and the need for collective efforts in the struggle against terrorism anywhere. This is not just a requirement, it is the duty of each state to act precisely thus in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The American side well knows our position, and after the conversations held I had the impression that they approach with understanding the concerns of Russia in this matter. At the same time US representatives stress that they would like that a political solution would be found to this problem. Russia is not interested in artificially whipping up tensions with whomsoever and above all with its neighbors. In this case with Georgia.

At the same time we will try to ensure that an end is put to terrorism, that terrorists from others' territories, from Georgian territory cannot and do not carry out any criminal actions on Russian territory.

Question: Yesterday in Warsaw Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Georgia is of greater concern to Russia than the problem of Iraq. Is that really so?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We have repeatedly stressed that there should be no mixing different problems. The problem of Iraq is a separate problem that has its own background. A large number of UN Security Council resolutions have been adopted on this question. The way of settlement in the legal field is well known. It is strict compliance by Iraq with all the resolution of the UN Security Council. Therefore, Russia sought and will continue to seek their implementation because it is through this that a political settlement of the situation can be arrived at.

As to the problem of Georgia, it has arisen recently in the wake of the activization of international terrorism. And, unfortunately, Russia, which has become its victim, is experiencing this threat from Georgian territory.

We've repeatedly invited the Georgian leadership to solve this problem jointly, and we're open for dialogue on this question. It is up to Tbilisi's political decision. If the Georgian leadership decides to jointly tackle this problem, I think both Russia and Georgia will stand to gain from this. Only jointly can we do away with terrorism, which poses a threat to our countries.

Question: How can you comment on Georgia's decision to extradite thirteen Chechen rebels to Russia?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: You know that we had long been trying to get that. That those are rebels was obvious from the outset, so it aroused incomprehension and bewilderment in us that Georgian authorities were demanding some additional evidence. We hope that this decision will mark the first practical step toward implementation of the statements which the Georgian leadership has repeatedly made concerning readiness to act more vigorously and resolutely in the struggle against terrorism on its territory. We would only welcome that.

Question: The British ambassador in Russia said yesterday that he sensed a rapprochement of Russia's and the West's positions on Iraq. Please comment this in the context of a possible adoption of a UN resolution concerning Iraq.

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We have repeatedly stressed that Russia has firmly stood and continues to stand for the implementation of all the UN Security Council resolutions on Iraq. And this position is shared by all members of the UNSC, by Russia and the other permanent and nonpermanent Council members alike. Therefore we've always had a common objective here.

We have also always resolutely stood within the framework of the implementation of these resolutions for an immediate return of international inspectors so they can give the answer whether there are WMDs in Iraq or not. We've never been in basic disagreement about that. The whole point is how to achieve it. We believe the political possibilities haven't been exhausted for achieving the fulfillment of the tasks of which I said.

Yet there are supporters of force-based actions too. You know about that, and of course we believe an attempt to solve this question by the use of force in circumvention of the UN Security Council could only complicate the problem and the situation in the region. As to the resolution, I have repeatedly stressed that no resolution is being discussed in the UNSC so far. There are only suppositions and statements of a general nature. Right now to speak about whether there exists a rapprochement of positions on a resolution which does not exist would be premature, to say the least.

Question: In Madrid Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia would not object to the Iraqi question being discussed in the UNSC. Can it be said that the stand of Russia has changed in some respects?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: Once again I want to stress that we've discussed the problem of Iraq during the present session of the UNGA and in the UNSC repeatedly. There are speculations or conjectures, which sometimes appear in the media, that a discussion is going on. I repeat, there aren't even any consultations so far. Therefore, whether Russia will be ready or not will depend on when the consultations actually start that must show just what is at issue. I would refrain from any suppositions because that would lead public opinion astray.

Question: But Russia is ready to hold consultations?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: Russia is always ready to hold consultations to achieve the expeditious return of international inspectors so they can start performing their functions without delay. Of course, we are interested in the utmost effectiveness of this work because without this, I repeat, to answer the question of whether there are WMDs in Iraq will be difficult.