Posted on 01/24/2002 12:33:30 PM PST by michaelje
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Thursday that Moscow was opposed to any U.S. military operation against Iraq, offering crucial support to Baghdad in its confrontation with Washington.
In a further gesture of support after talks with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, Ivanov said Moscow wanted sanctions against Iraq to be lifted.
Aziz arrived in Moscow Wednesday amid threats by Washington to use force against Iraq if it refused to allow in U.N. arms inspectors, who left Iraq in 1998 complaining they were being prevented from performing their duties.
"We will not submit to U.S. threats," Aziz told a news conference during a break in the talks. "If we face aggression, we will defend our country."
After the Sept. 11 suicide attacks in the United States, Russia joined the U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition and backed Washington's military operation in Afghanistan.
Moscow has repeatedly warned the West of the threat posed by Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers, accused by Washington of harboring Saudi-born militant Osama bin-Laden, held responsible for the attacks.
Russia has maintained close ties with Iraq and is trying to recover Soviet-era debts of about $9 billion. It is deeply suspicious of U.S. plans to extend military action to other countries suspected of backing international terrorism. Washington lists Baghdad among its prime suspects.
"The struggle against terrorism should be based on a firm legal basis and the U.N. should play a coordinating role in the joint international effort," Ivanov said. "That is why Russia sees as unacceptable a mechanical spread of the anti-terrorist operation to any other country, including Iraq."
"If such a thing occurred, this would not only weaken the anti-terrorist coalition but also help extremist forces which want to ruin this coalition and aim at using contradictions among its members to achieve their goals."
RUSSIA WANTS SANCTIONS LIFTED
The dispatch of inspectors, intended to determine whether Baghdad held chemical and biological weapons, was part of the U.N. action against Iraq undertaken after the 1991 Gulf War to eject Iraq from Kuwait.
The action, authorized by U.N. Security Council resolution 681, also included economic sanctions against Iraq.
Asked if Baghdad was ready to bow to U.S. pressure and allow the inspectors back, Aziz said: "If you want a solution, you have to want a package -- we support that."
"We will carry out our obligations, but let others carry out their obligations in accordance with the U.N. Security Council's resolutions," he added.
Ivanov reiterated Russia's support for lifting sanctions against Iraq, which he described as "counterproductive." He welcomed dialogue between Baghdad and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, started last year.
"Any solution should state clearly the prospects and conditions for lifting sanctions as envisaged in the U.N. Security Council's resolution," he said.
What is with Russia?hey act as if they are not with us in this war on terror. I am sure that any plans to attack Iraq will continue with or without the support of Russia.
"You're either with us or with the terroists"
If we know what's good for us we'll work to get Russia on our side of this issue. We won't get there by ignoring the Russians or giving them the one finger salute. Russian cooperation has been very helpful so far, and would be in any Iraq plans. Let's be smart instead of macho. 9/11 seemed to open the door for some real US-Russia friendship. Pissing on it now isn't bright.
Besides, we haven't caught O-slime-a yet or all of Al Quaeda.
They just want to be bought off....9 billion would just about clear up their IMF debt.
Saddam is building palaces while his people starve and they owe Russia $9 Billion???
Why don't we go in with Russia and BUY Iraq? We'll pay Russia $9 Billion, and we get to do whatever we want there, like kick Saddam out, liberate the Iraqi people, and get some oil in the bargain.
It is always the same story with France....they will always be the nasty little worms that you find under a rock if there is any money to be made. It has to do with their national character....to be precise, the total lack thereof.
A. Could China sustain the same kind of of retailiation, recover faster and maintain its position as a cheap goods provider to Western Euroupe?
B. Or do you think the U.S. would retaliate by evaporating ChiCom cities?
Of course this is years away (5-10) in terms of ChiCom technology. Seems like to easy a way to cripple our economy in one fell swoop, basically turning us into a third world nation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.