PRESS CONFERENCE WITH YURI FEDOTOV
DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

August 15, 2003

Deputy Minister Fedotov: Yesterday the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1500, which is designed to step up the international community's involvement in postwar reconstruction and settlement in Iraq.

The decision taken by the Security Council provides for the deployment of a full-scale United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The mission will consist of more than 300 UN personnel and its powers are considerable. They were suggested by the Secretary General in his last report of July 15 and comprise the broadest range of matters, such as assistance to the economic reconstruction of the country, to the creation of a civil society, to the preparation and holding of elections and to the solution of acute humanitarian problems.

Russia, as is known, from the very beginning supported the UN Secretary General's recommendations for the establishment of a UN Mission in Iraq. We are glad that our position has now received the support of the entire Security Council. We expect that the establishment of the UN Mission and its speediest deployment will make it possible to ensure a significant and independent participation of the UN in Iraqi settlement.

The new resolution of the Security Council also welcomes the establishment of the Interim Governing Council of Iraq as a step towards the formation in the future of a legitimate and internationally recognized government of that country, as well as towards the restoration of the sovereignty of Iraq. The UN, by the way, can play its role in this. The UN Secretary General in his report proposed establishing a schedule for advancement towards this objective. Assistance from the UN, we hope, will help to ensure the successful full-fledged accomplishment of constitutional changes and the holding of elections in that country. Thus, the Security Council is beginning ever more actively to deal with the Iraq question. Russia intends to assist this positive process comprehensively. What was the vote on the resolution?

Answer: Syria abstained in the vote and explained its position by stating that although this resolution had suited it in principle as a resolution establishing the UN Mission, Syria would have wanted of it more, and in particular that it should have encompassed a wider range of issues. All the other countries on the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. Everybody agreed that deploying the UN Mission to Iraq would play its positive role in the settlement process there. Is stability in Iraq going to be ensured by US troops or will a peacekeeping force be created under the aegis of the UN? And if so, will Russian troops be part of this force?

Answer: The Security Council Resolution 1500 concerns civilian matters connected with the reconstruction of Iraq and does not touch the sphere of security or military aspects. These matters continue to be regulated by Resolution 1483. There are no changes here. No proposals regarding a change of the format of the international military presence in Iraq had come in. This question at the present time is not on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. How was the work of the Russian diplomatic missions in the US affected by the electricity shutdown in the country?

Answer: On this question I can tell you that this shutdown did not affect Washington at all. As to New York, the Representation of Russia at the United Nations and the Consulate General have autonomous power supply systems. The generators began to operate immediately, and therefore the functioning of our foreign agencies wasn't interrupted for a minute. All are alive and sound. By the way, it is interesting that the shutdown occurred virtually an hour after the adoption of the resolution on Iraq, whereupon the UN Headquarters staff were evacuated. How will the UN Mission work in Iraq: in parallel with the US occupation administration or will somebody be in subordination?

Answer: The UN Mission will work in coordination with the US administration and the Interim Governing Council of Iraq. Examples of this kind are there. In Afghanistan the UN Mission acts parallel with the existence of the international security force and in parallel with the deployment in Afghanistan of American forces. The UN Mission has clearly delineated independent functions exactly in the civilian sphere. What will be the composition of the Mission?

Answer: It will be an international mission which will be composed of the representatives of different countries and, undoubtedly, we shall be ready to assign our specialists with a rich experience, with a knowledge of this region to work as members of this force. Who regulates entry into Iraq?

Answer: The temporary occupation authority regulates the questions of entry into Iraq. What is the period of activity of the UN Mission?

Answer: This UN Mission has been established for a period of twelve months and it will work just as all the other missions do, among other things regularly report to the Security Council on its work. In a year the Council will return to this matter and decide whether it is necessary to extend its term of powers and to enlarge or reduce it. That is, it is a question that lies entirely within the competence of the UN Security Council. Attacks on US troops are still continuing in Iraq? What is the official stand of Russia in this connection? Do we regard those attacks as terrorist actions or as a struggle for the freedom of Iraq?

Answer: We are concerned by the fact that there exists an atmosphere of instability in Iraq. That atmosphere objectively gives rise to extremist sentiments which might spill over beyond the boundaries of Iraq and lead to complications in the entire region, which lies not so far from our borders. That's why Russia is interested in stabilizing the situation in Iraq. At the same time it is clear that stabilization can't be achieved by military measures alone. We are also concerned by the fact that the absence of real progress in the satisfaction of the basic needs of the Iraqi population leads to tension in society and to incidents and demonstrations. Unless this is brought to an end, the situation could acquire a very dangerous character. That's why both the UN Secretary General and all the members of the Security Council backed up the idea that Iraq was in need of broader international assistance in the field of reconstruction and the organization of a normal life. From the very beginning of the occupation there has been speculation about a possible division of Iraq into three parts - Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni. Does the international community guarantee the preservation of the territorial integrity of Iraq?

Answer: The resolution adopted by the Security Council underscores its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. All the leaders of the previously main opposition political movements and parties of Iraq are on the Interim Governing Council. As of now, there is no danger of Iraq being divided, but again it is important that life in Iraq should assume a more normal and civilized character as soon as possible. Otherwise new complications may arise and what their implications will be, it is difficult to say thus far. Does the adoption of the new resolution on Iraq mean the recognition by the international community of the Interim Governing Council now operating in that country?

Answer: The question is not one of recognizing the Interim Governing Council, but that its establishment is welcomed only as a step which will in the future lead to the formation of an internationally recognized government, and that this government will exercise the sovereignty of Iraq. This is clearly stated in the resolution.