Moscow, 5 February — The question on whether or not Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction should be finally clarified, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuriy Fedotov today said in an exclusive interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent.
He recalled that Iraq "did in fact work on designing weapons of mass destruction". "Some of these weapons or probably all of these weapons were later destroyed by the Iraqis themselves or under the control of international inspectors," he said. "The question is whether or not any banned components have been left in Iraq for their further development."
"A US commission led by David Kay has arrived at the conclusion that no such traces were found," Fedotov went on. "If this is true, this conclusion should be confirmed by an authoritative opinion of international inspectors."
The Russian diplomat believes that "there exists a risk of banned weapons finding their way into the hands of terrorists and extremists, even where only a very small quantity of such weapons and their components are left in Iraq". This possibility should be ruled out, he said.
Fedotov also stressed that "any finds linked to weapons of mass destruction should be certified by independent international structures".
The diplomat believes that the term of inspectors mission can be very short. "It is more important for them to complete work under the mandate rather than just return to Iraq," he explained. "Quite probably, they will not have to be present in Iraq at all."
0759 GMT Russian deputy foreign minister says operation against Iraq was mistake
Moscow, 5 February — Russia believes, as before, that the military operation against Iraq was a political mistake, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuriy Fedotov today said in an exclusive interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent.
"Our assessment of the unsanctioned by the UN Security Council military operation against Iraq as a big political mistake remains in force," the high-ranking diplomat stressed. However, at present "it is necessary to think together about ways out of this situation and methods to solve the Iraq problem in line with the norms of international law, and about ways to ensure a better life for the Iraqi people".
"The talk that the UN has exhausted itself and that it does not cope with modern threats and challenges, as well as apprehensions that it might 'collapse' has turned out to be an exaggeration," Fedotov said.
The question of when and on which terms can UN resume its work in Iraq is being discussed now, he went on. "Russia is in favor of the UN playing a leading and independent role in the processes of the Iraqi settlement, taking into account its rich experience in the sphere of post-conflict peace restoration efforts.
0850 GMT Russia wants UN to take extra steps to block access to WMD for terrorists
Moscow, 5 February — Russia favors the adoption of measures at the UN Security Council that will exclude access for terrorists to weapons of mass destruction.
In an exclusive interview to ITAR-TASS, Yuriy Fedotov, Russian deputy foreign minister, said "the danger of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists is a real threat".
"It is understood at the UN that essential steps should be taken before it is too late," the top diplomat believes.
He explained that it was a matter of states adopting additional obligations to prevent weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of non-state extremist structures.
"In principle countries are in any case obliged to do this," Fedotov noted. "But in today's conditions these obligations need to be strengthened."
In his view, "this can be done by applying the authority of the Security Council".
He noted that consultations on this problems were under way at the Security Council. "The Russian side hopes that a common position can be agreed upon soon that will be aimed at removing such a threat," he said.
"It is not excluded that a relevant resolution will be adopted."
Translated from the original by World News Connection.
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