16 January 2003 00:00
TRANSCRIPT OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV'S REMARKS AT THE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE RESULTS OF THE TALKS WITH INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) DIRECTOR GENERAL MOHAMED ELBARADEI, MOSCOW, JANUARY 15, 2002
Foreign Minister Ivanov: We had a detailed conversation on nuclear non-proliferation. We concentrated on Iraq and the Korean Peninsula. We have a shared conviction that it is necessary to continue the settlement of the issue of Iraq by political and diplomatic means on the basis of strict compliance by all the parties with the corresponding resolutions of the UN Security Council. The IAEA, of course, plays an important part in that process. The next meeting of the UN Security Council is scheduled for the end of January and it will discuss the results of the UNMOVIC and IAEA inspections carried out in the last two months. We hope that the high professional competence of IAEA inspectors, given a proper degree of cooperation on the part of Baghdad, will enable the Agency to present an objective assessment of the state of affairs of Iraq's nuclear dossier and recommendations regarding its further fate. Russia is prepared to continue exchange of opinions on IAEA inspections in Iraq. We are ready to render every assistance to the inspectors encouraging the sides toward developing further constructive cooperation. Judging from the results of the early IAEA inspections there are no data to indicate that Iraq is engaged in forbidden nuclear activities. At the same time, if there are any gaps or vagueness, all the countries that have additional information on that score must present it to UNMOVIC and IAEA inspectors. In the final analysis only international inspectors can provide an exhaustive answer to the question whether Iraq has forbidden types of mass destruction weapons. Russia, as is well known, proceeds on the basis that a military operation against Baghdad, a unilateral military action not sanctioned by the UN Security Council can merely aggravate the already complicated situation in the region and lead to unpredictable consequences to international peace and stability, and it may damage the interests of the global struggle against international terrorism.
So, Russia will render all the necessary assistance to the activities of UNMOVIC and IAEA inspectors so that they could fully perform their functions under the corresponding resolutions of the UN Security Council. This is not an easy path and we are aware of the difficulties that may be encountered on this path, but it is a secure peaceful path to the settlement of the situation.
When discussing the problem of Korea, we have pronounced ourselves in favor of strict compliance with non-proliferation regimes and the existing agreements as the key condition for normalization of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We also stated the need to commit the whole arsenal of diplomatic means on a bilateral and multilateral basis while respecting the legitimate interests of all the parties. In this context Russia has confirmed its principled support of the need for all its signatories to strictly abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in support of the IAEA efforts aimed at strengthening the role of that treaty. We support the call of the IAEA on the DPRK to continue cooperation with the Agency, to restore the functioning of the monitoring equipment and ensure the return of IAEA inspectors to the country.
In the context of these conditions Russia intends to continue active diplomatic efforts with all the parties concerned for the purpose of finding a political way out of the situation. And of course in these efforts we will closely cooperate with the IAEA management.
Question: Igor Sergeyevich, what is the purpose of the visit of the Deputy Foreign Minister Saltanov to Iraq?
Foreign Minister Ivanov: As for the coming visit by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Saltanov to Iraq these are contacts that are constant between Moscow and Baghdad on every aspect of the settlement of the situation around Iraq. Russia has contributed considerably to Baghdad's decision to allow an unconditional return of international inspectors to Iraq. Russia has contributed considerably to the adoption of Resolution 1441. Russia is interested to see effective work of international inspectors under UNMOVIC and IAEA auspices. Because we think that this is the only way toward peaceful settlement of the situation that may produce the final decision, including the lifting of sanctions against Iraq.
We have maintained constant contacts with Baghdad so as to contribute to the full compliance with all the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1441. Such contacts are particularly important on the eve of the forthcoming Security Council meeting on January 27 which will hear the reports from UNMOVIC and IAEA.
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