Russia 'will stand by coalition even if Iraq is attacked'
From Michael Binyon in Moscow
RUSSIA made clear yesterday that it would not pull out of the American-led coalition against terror even if the United States launched a unilateral strike against Iraq.
Igor Ivanov, the Foreign Minister, said that Moscow opposed any US strike on Baghdad which would cause turmoil not only in the Gulf but throughout the Middle East.
In talks next week in London with Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, he will remind him that Moscow opposed the Anglo-American strikes on Baghdad in 1998.
In an interview with The Times, Mr Ivanov said: “We would hope that the US and UK do not make the same mistake again.” A strike would deal “a serious blow” to the coalition. But he stopped short of any threat to cut off Russian help for the anti-terrorist campaign, which he insisted Russia supported.
“It would not be expedient to issue any ultimatums to say that we would withdraw from the coalition,” he said. “Participation in this coalition is not some present or gift to give to someone, but in our own interests. We have common positions with Britain on this.”
Mr Ivanov said that only the United Nations was authorised to act against any country breaking UN resolutions, and he urged Britain and America to focus on talks to return weapons inspectors to Iraq.
But he acknowledged the signs from Washington that it was preparing to take military action. Russia was therefore now urging President Saddam Hussein to implement all UN resolutions and allow the weapons inspectors to return.
Moscow wanted to see an end to all Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, but believed that the chance of a political settlement was not exhausted. Mr Ivanov said that Russia “cannot but be concerned” by the unilateralism in US policy.
Russia has been vexed by a series of US actions and statements that have stirred up an angry public response here. He said that these ranged from last year’s decision to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to the recently leaked document that includes Russia among American nuclear targets.
The Kremlin wanted to build a “partnership and predictable relations” with America. But this was hard if calls by President Bush and President Putin for better relations were not supported by deeds.
Predictability was possible only with more transparency and mutual trust. He cited as an example, America’s dispatch of military instructors to Georgia. This did not hurt the sovereignty of either Georgia or Russia, he said.
More article @....
thetimes.co.uk |
