Question: Today Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov spoke at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council, dedicated to the combating of terrorism. Although the speech of a diplomat is to be diplomatic, his statement can be called clear-cut and specific as regards its reflection of the current situation around the struggle against terrorism.

Yuri Viktorovich, what makes this meeting important? What are its results?

Answer: The importance of the meeting is not only in that it has opened a diplomatic season in the United Nations for the year 2003. There has been clearly stated, and everybody agrees with this, that international terrorism carries today the chief threat to international peace and security. That is why the UN Security Council must in accordance with the Charter concern itself with this problem. And the Security Council is not engaged in mere declarations. Today explicit, concrete decisions have been taken to intensify the international drive against terrorism. The most urgent task now is to bring to an end the possibilities for international terrorists to hide out anywhere or receive financial or other support in any states. And those who connive at bandits and protect terrorism shall be considered the same kind of criminals as the terrorists themselves. This is the principal meaning of the discussion and of the Security Council resolution adopted at its end, to which is annexed the declaration agreed upon by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

Question: Was the Iraq problem discussed in the course of the meeting?

Answer: The Iraqi topic was touched on. In his statement the head of the Russian delegation, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, clearly stated that it is necessary to avoid any steps which would endanger the cohesion of the international antiterrorist coalition. In this context a solution of the Iraqi problem has to be reached on the basis of strict implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council, including Resolution 1441, which, as is known, was adopted unanimously.

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