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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: maceng2 who wrote (51505)	10/12/2002 2:17:28 PM
From: maceng2	Respond to of 281500

Blair upbeat after Putin Iraq talks news.bbc.co.uk Mr Blair believes a consensus can be achieved The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has expressed cautious optimism about Russian backing for a new United Nations resolution on Iraq. Mr Blair said he had made progress in his talks with President Vladimir Putin near Moscow, and that Russia was signalling that it was prepared to discuss a tough new resolution on weapons inspections. I think you'll find Russia is prepared for sufficiently tough language on the nature of the inspections regime Prime Minister Blair Mr Blair said he believed the issue was now close to being resolved. Mr Putin had earlier acknowledged that a resolution might eventually become necessary, but only if Iraq failed to disarm. However, he said there was no evidence that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction, and no legal grounds for military action against the country. Both houses of the United States Congress have now authorised President George W Bush to take military action against Baghdad. Intense negotiations Speaking to journalists on his homeward journey Mr Blair said Russia has taken its position very, very clearly, however it is now signalling it is prepared to discuss and talk about a fresh UN resolution and that is important. He said discussions were intensifying on the nature of the resolution and on the issue of enforcement. Russia wants arms inspections to precede any new resolution "You've got to wait and see what language we use when it goes down, but I think you'll find Russia is prepared for sufficiently tough language on the nature of the inspections regime," Mr Blair said. The prime minister said that he had two aims - to secure a strong international coalition and to ensure the return of weapons inspectors to work unhindered in Iraq. Mr Blair said "we are close to resolving those two issues". "I think you'll find it moves quickly now. My best estimate is we will get the resolution we need," he added. Timetable When asked about a possible timetable for the five permanent members of the Security Council to reach a consensus Mr Blair said: "I don't want to put a specific time on it, but I think you'll find things moving quite quickly now." Earlier, speaking publicly for the first time on the possibility of a new resolution on Iraq, Mr Putin said he does not rule out supporting a new, tougher resolution. Russia remains unconvinced about Iraq's threat "Russia's position has always been that no new resolution is necessary," Mr Putin said. "But we need to take account of the negative experience of the work of UN inspectors." "With this aim in mind, I do not rule out reaching a joint position, including a UN resolution," he added. Iraqi resolve However Mr Putin made plain his doubts over America and Britain's arguments that Saddam Hussein is a danger because of his possession of biological and chemical weapons. Russia "has not received persuasive proof from its partners of such weapons in Iraq. This thesis is confirmed by information sent by the CIA to [the US] Congress," he said. And he repeated Moscow's view that there were no legal grounds for military action against Iraq. Late on Friday the US Senate voted to grant Mr Bush the authority to launch an attack on Iraq. The resolution allows Mr Bush to use "necessary and appropriate force" to disarm Iraq. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has said his country is ready to "confront these plans of aggression... within the hour".