24 December 2002 00:00
TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IGOR IVANOV PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING TALKS WITH ISRAELI MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BINYAMIN NETANYAHU (MOSCOW, DECEMBER 23, 2002)
2649-24-11-2002
The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu, and I have just concluded our talks. We discussed the current state of Russian-Israeli relations and stated that they are positively and dynamically evolving in many fields. We agreed to continue to exert joint efforts toward ensuring that these processes are further developed. This encompasses cooperation in the political domain and on the international scene, trade-and-economic ties, and cooperation in the areas of science, culture and education.
Naturally we discussed the Middle East situation in detail. I informed Mr. Netanyahu of the results of the recent Quartet meeting in Washington at foreign ministers' levels and of the basic elements of the Road Map which has been prepared by the Quartet and which aims to realize the concept of the coexistence of two states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security.
We exchanged views on the situation around Iraq. Russia stands for the unconditional implementation of all the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1441. We believe that compliance with this resolution will ease a political settlement of the situation around Iraq.
During the talks we also discussed a number of other pressing international problems and emphasized the importance of bolstering the antiterrorist coalition.
Russia presumes that there is no justification for terrorism, nor can there be. At the same time, in respect of terrorism there may be no double standards - there are no terrorists good or bad, all the terrorists are terrorists. Only by joint efforts will the international community be able to achieve success in the struggle against terrorism.
Mr. Netanyahu conveyed to me an invitation to visit Israel, which I accepted with gratitude. The date will additionally be arranged.
Question: It is known that Israel has weapons of mass destruction. Will Russia and the world community raise this question in order to destroy the weapons of mass destruction which Israel has?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: Russia supports the proposal that the Middle East should be a nuclear-free zone.
Question: Does Israel have objections to any points of the Quartet's plan?
Foreign Minister Ivanov (speaking after Netanyahu): I would like to say that in the course of our talks I set out the basic elements of the Road Map, which had been prepared in the course of consultations with both parties. At the beginning of February the Quartet bears in mind to again gather, conclusively approve the Road Map and then present it to the parties.
Question: After today's talks has the stand of Russia on Yasser Arafat changed?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: This question was not a subject of our present talks.
Question: Israel supports a war against Iraq while Russia is against this war. What political steps will Russia take if the US does go to war against Iraq?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: As I said, Russia favors a rigorous and complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441. We will continue to act strictly within the framework of appropriate UNSC resolutions. Any actions outside the bounds of the UN Security Council resolutions on our part may only complicate the situation in the region.
Question: What is the attitude of Russia to the increasing war hysteria on the part of the US and the growing certainty that a war against Iraq will begin at the beginning of next year?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: Hysteria is probably not the best form of solving problems. So we will further act calmly, as I already said, within the framework of existing UNSC resolutions.
December 23, 2002
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