online.wsj.com
August 17, 2002
Russia and Iraq Are Close
To Signing $40 Billion Pact
Associated Press
MOSCOW -- Russia and Iraq are preparing to sign a $40 billion economic cooperation plan, the Iraqi ambassador to Moscow said Saturday.
News of the pact follows signs that Moscow, despite its strong support for the U.S.-led antiterrorism coalition, is maintaining or improving ties with Iran and North Korea. Along with Iraq, those two countries make up what President Bush has labeled an "axis of evil."
The pending Russia-Iraq economic deal is likely to be seen by Washington as another blow to its efforts to marshal backing for an attack on Iraq. White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said, "We're confident that Russia understands its obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions and that they'll abide by them."
Russia's Foreign Ministry said Saturday it had no comment on the deal.
Washington is determined to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein -- possibly through a military operation -- because of the threat posed by his regime's efforts to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Russia, a longtime ally of Iraq, has warned against a U.S. invasion.
German and U.S. officials confirmed Saturday that the U.S. ambassador to Berlin had questioned German officials about Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's opposition to attacking Iraq. The questions are an indication that Mr. Schroeder has irked Washington.
The chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, said he can't say with certainty whether Iraq has such weapons. "If we knew -- if we had real evidence that they have weapons of mass destruction -- we would bring it to the Security Council," he said. Mr. Blix spoke while waiting for Iraq's response to a letter from Secretary-General Kofi Annan urging the country to allow the return of weapons inspectors who left in December 1998.
Moscow supports lifting U.N. sanctions imposed after Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Moscow hopes lifting sanctions would allow Baghdad to pay off its $7 billion Soviet-era debt and expand trade.
Iraq is counting on Russia to use its leverage in the U.N. Security Council and other diplomatic channels to deprive Washington of international support for a military operation, Iraqi Ambassador Abbas Khalaf said.
Mr. Khalaf emphasized that the deal, which is to include new projects as well as the modernization of some Soviet-built infrastructure, wouldn't violate U.N. sanctions. The five-year agreement envisions cooperation in the fields of oil, irrigation, agriculture, railroads, other transportation sectors and electrical energy. It will most likely be signed in Baghdad in the beginning of September, Mr. Khalaf said.
He dismissed the idea that Russia would yield to U.S. pressure and drop its opposition to an invasion. "Iraq is Russia's most dependable partner in the East," he said.
Last month, Russia announced a 10-year plan for nuclear cooperation with Iran. Under the plan, Russia would build another five reactors in addition to the one currently under construction at Bushehr. Washington fears such cooperation could help Iran develop nuclear weapons. This week, the Kremlin said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will visit Russia in August.
Copyright (c) 2002 The Associated Press |
