STATEMENT BY IGOR IVANOV
FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

February 5, 2003

Esteemed Mr. President,

Being on American soil, I would like, first of all, on behalf of the leadership and people of Russia to express deeply-felt condolences to the government and people of the United States of America over the tragic loss of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia.

We share the grief of our US partners, with whom we are bound by active cooperation in space, and in the first place, by the implementation of the International Space Station program. The work of cosmonauts probably demonstrates most strikingly the commonality of the fundamental interests of mankind, the necessity of combining its intellectual, creative efforts for the progress of civilization.

Mr. President,

Russia views the present meeting through the prism of the consistent efforts by the United Nations Security Council for a political resolution of the situation around Iraq on the basis of full and strict compliance with the existing resolutions.

The unanimous adoption of the resolution 1441 of the UN Security Council, and the unfolding of the activity of international inspectors in Iraq have demonstrated the ability of the world community to act together in the interest of attaining a common objective. We are convinced that preserving the unity of the world community, above all within the framework of the Security Council of the United Nations, and our concerted actions in strict accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and resolutions of the Council are the most reliable way for solving the problem of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq by political means. And that all of us want to solve this problem, no one should have any doubt.

From this point of view, we heard with the utmost attention the report of US Secretary of State Colin Powell. Russia has presumed and continues to presume that the Security Council, and in its person the international community, should have all the necessary information in order to answer the question whether any weapons of mass destruction still remain in Iraq or none exist there. The information presented to us today, of course, requires the most serious and comprehensive examination. The experts of our countries should immediately get down to its analysis and draw appropriate conclusions. And most importantly, this information has to be immediately handed over for processing to UNMOVIC and IAEA, including by way of verification directly on the ground in the course of inspections in Iraq. As to Baghdad, it must present the inspectors with answers to the questions which were heard in the speech of the US Secretary of State.

Simultaneously we should once again appeal to all states urgently to hand over to international inspectors any information that can help in the performance of their mandate.

The information presented by the US Secretary of State once again shows convincingly that international inspectors' activity has to be continued, for they alone can give an objective answer to the question how Iraq complies with the Security Council's demands, and they alone can help the Council with the elaboration and adoption of carefully considered and optimal decisions.

The reports by Mr. Hans Blix and Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei in this hall on January 27 have shown that a unique inspection mechanism has been set up in Iraq which has everything necessary for ensuring the implementation of resolution 1441 and the other decisions of the Security Council of the United Nations. This strong potential needs to be used in full.

The UN Security Council, and all its members should comprehensively support the inspection process. Russia, for its part, intends to assist further the creation of the most favorable conditions for the work of international inspectors in Iraq. We, in particular, are ready to provide a plane for aerial monitoring, and if necessary, additional inspectors as well.

Russia welcomes the continuation of the dialogue by the Chairman of UNMOVIC and the Director General of the IAEA with Iraq on the issues still outstanding. We count on this discussion to be extremely concrete and productive. This, in particular, is facilitated by the transfer of work to the schedule of resolution 1284, which must impart to international inspections and monitoring an even more systemic and effective character, first and foremost, in clarifying key disarmament tasks by the end of March, 2003.

It is abundantly clear that the work of UNMOVIC and IAEA can be effective only with full and honest cooperation by Iraq. First of all, it is Iraq that must be interested in clarifying definitively the issue of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles, for this is the only road towards a political settlement, including the lifting of sanctions on Iraq. Baghdad ought to be clearly aware of the crucial moment it now faces, and do everything in its power for the performance by international inspectors of their mandate.

Of late with reference to Iraqi settlement one can often hear that "the time is running out." Of course, resolution 1441 is aimed at the speediest achievement of practical results. But it envisages no specific timeline. The inspectors alone can recommend to the Security Council how much time they need to fulfill the tasks set for them. In this connection it cannot be ruled out that the Security Council at some stage may need to adopt a new, and, perhaps, more than one resolution.

The main thing is that our efforts should be further directed to ensuring the inspection process in every way, which has proved its effectiveness and makes it possible to achieve the implementation of the decisions of the Security Council of the United Nations by peaceful means.

Mr. President,

The present situation around Iraq, unfortunately, is far from the last problem, on the solution of which we will have to work.

The international community in the 21st century has encountered new global threats and challenges, requiring joint response on the part of all states. A graphic example of that approach is the creation of a broad coalition to counter the chief and the most dangerous threat of our time - international terrorism. It has been thanks to the unity of the world community that the first successes have been achieved in the struggle against this evil. At the same time it is abundantly clear that we are only at the beginning of a very difficult road of combating terrorism. And the information of the US Secretary of State on the activities of Al-Qaida is an additional proof of this.

The unity of the world community will continue to be the main guarantee for the effectiveness of its actions. It is unity that should remain the pivot of our approach to any problems, however complex they may be. Yes, tactical differences may arise and most likely they aren't going to be few, taking into account the complexity of the tasks being tackled. But they should not overshadow the strategic aims that meet the interests of general security and stability.

Thank you for your attention.