Russia says war in Iraq a mistake and illegal

Reuters ^ | 3/17/03

[areafiftyone]

(Combines comments by Putin, Ivanov)

By Viktor Korotayev

MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Russia called for last-minute attempts to solve the Iraq crisis peacefully on Monday, saying any resort to force would be both a mistake and illegal.

Russia has aligned itself with France and Germany in calling for further U.N. arms inspections to ensure that Iraq is free of what the United States says are illegal weapons. Like France, a fellow permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, it has threatened to veto any new resolution endorsing military action.

President Vladimir Putin, speaking before the United States and Britain said they would no longer seek a vote for a new resolution endorsing force, said any approach other than peaceful disarmament would be a mistake.

"We would like to resolve it through political and diplomatic means," he told reporters. "I am convinced that any other solution would be a mistake."

Putin, who has made infrequent statements at home on the crisis, said war "will not only bring about human casualties but also destabilise the international community in general.

"There are 20 million Muslims living in Russia. We cannot afford not to consider their opinion and we fully share their alarm," he added.

Both Washington and Britain say military action now against Iraq would be legal.

But Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, speaking after the abandonment of Washington's bid to seek U.N. endorsement for war, said existing U.N. Security Council resolutions gave no one any legal right to launch a strike on Iraq.

"We believe the use of force against Iraq, especially with reference to previous resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, has no grounds, including legal grounds," Ivanov told reporters.

NO ENDORSEMENT FROM CURRENT RESOLUTION

Ivanov said resolution 1441 of last November, under which U.N. weapons inspections were resumed, gave no endorsement.

"Resolution 1441, to which so many references are made, does not give anyone the right to use force automatically," he said.

That resolution, approved unanimously, spoke of "serious consequences" if Iraq failed to comply with demands to disarm.

Ivanov said the resolution contained a clause obliging Security Council members, if necessary, to meet immediately to ensure Iraq's strict implementation of its terms.

There was still a chance, he said, for diplomacy to succeed.

The Foreign Ministry said no decision had been made on whether Ivanov would fly to New York to press an 11th hour case. France, Germany and Russia called at the weekend for a Tuesday meeting of ministers of Security Council members.

Georgy Mamedov, a deputy foreign minister, said Russia would do its best to minimise differences with Washington.

"Russia will not launch an anti-American campaign, but will try its utmost to return the situation to a proper legal basis," Mamedov was quoted as telling Itar-Tass news agency.

"We will not gloat over a tragic mistake by the United States or start a noisy campaign. Our relations are too important for international peace to hold them hostage to differences over the Iraq problem."

[kjam22]

"There are 20 million Muslims living in Russia. We cannot afford not to consider their opinion and we fully share their alarm," he added.

But it's not a war about religion or ethinticty? Are those 20 million Russians or Iraqis?

[Diogenesis]

Russia should stop fighting the Chechens. Or is that OK for them?

Next time they take over Moscow, Russia better ask the UN what to do FIRST.

[Green]

"We will not gloat over a tragic mistake by the United States or start a noisy campaign. Our relations are too important for international peace to hold them hostage to differences over the Iraq problem."

So does this mean you will now sit down and be quiet?

[scooby321]

Does this mean you won't ask the US for IMF Loans this Summer???

[mitchbert]

I see. And so logically it follows that flattening a provincial capital, killing tens of thousands of civilians, sending drunk and undisciplined conscripts into an area to loot and pilliage (and heaven knows what else), why that's just cricket, right?

Glass houses, Mother Russia, glass houses.

[flamefront]

No, this says it all.

"Russia will not launch an anti-American campaign, but ..."

Where is Patton, when you need him?

[MindBender26]

How much foreign aid are we sending them a year?

[DoughtyOne]

The new long term plan for the United Nations is in.

View this 65k Quicktime (mov) graphic.  LINK

[flamefront]

The Russians lost the race to Pristina. Now they lost any chance to improve on their lost oil contracts and arms trading with Iraq. Move on, Putin.

[Grampa Dave]

Interesting, coming from a bunch of thugs who mass murdered millions in the last century including their own people. The KGB is alive and well in Putrid's Homeland!

Their cash cows, Iraq/Iran are about to become hamburger. That will cost them billions. The new governments in Iraq and Iran will repay these bastards with nothing of value.

[flamefront]

Tuesday, March 11, 2003
"Two Warnings" [about Russia]
by J. R. Nyquist

[aynrandfreak]

Just to keep things in perspective, I believe that Yeltsin said that going into Kosovo would be illegal too. I'm still mad at Putin too though.

[elfman2]

Sounds like they just ran the numbers on $20 per barrel oil.

[scootshome]

YOUR EITHER WITH US OR.....**GET OUT OF THE WAY**...! If the Russians were SMART they would sit back and be quite and let the French act like the FOOLS... But of course these are the Russians, They aren't even gonna take a look at maybe POPCORN Stocks, for instance, in the USA. No they have to ACT A FOOL...like our BACKSTABBING FRENCHMEN....

[DannyTN]

"There are 20 million Muslims living in Russia. We cannot afford not to consider their opinion and we fully share their alarm," he added.

"Translation---> I'm only saying this because I'll have domestic problems with these dang Muslims if I don't."

[Orion78]

PING

[From The Deer Stand]

It's a good thing Russia has never done anything that could be considered a "mistake or "illegal." That would be disappointing for such a stellar nation.

[mikhailovich]

Everyone is right so far, carry on.......