PRESS RELEASE ON THE ROLE OF THE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN DEALING
WITH THE IRAQ ISSUE

UKRAINE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

November 11, 2002

. . .

Answer the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A.Zlenko to the questions of the correspondent of "Interfax - Ukraine" on "Kolchugas" situation.

To my opinion the address to the Security Council is in the interest of Ukraine as well as the US.

We shouldn't leave this situation at the contemporary two-digit position. It is necessary to address to the highest authority. The more so as, the Iraq issue is not only the issue of the American security or our bilateral relations. This is the issue of international peace and security. Why, then, should we keep the Security Council aloof?

Besides, the address to the UNO is the international obligation of Ukraine. According to the UN SC resolution, all the information that can refer to the contravention of the UN sanctions against Iraq is to be brought to the notice of the appropriate Committee of the UN SC 661.

At the same time, I agreed with the President of the SC and the Chairman of the SC Committee 661 on the UN international experts' dispatch while discussing with them the "Kolchugas" situation in September in New-York. This is a normal, civilized way that we are going to follow.

The USA cast doubts on our openness publicly. These doubts are unfounded. In this situation both the USA and Ukraine are the sides concerned. There should be the third side to establish the truth. It is difficult to imagine for me what can it be besides the UNO?

The American and British experts' visit to Ukraine doesn't substitute the UN verification. These are two separate questions, but namely the UN SC verdict must put a full stop in this unpleasant situation.

The latest. There is no doubt that the USA and Great Britain as the SC permanent members can apply to a veto and block the consideration of the problem at the UN SC. But to my mind, this can define two things: either the USA are not interested in the establishment of the truth or they don't want to admit the unfounded accusations.

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