Moscow Renews Rejection to Striking Iraq

A high ranking Russian official has stressed that Russia opposes directing a military strike against Iraq, but it called on Baghdad to cooperate concerning the return back of UN weapons inspectors.

To this effect, the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Sultanov stressed that the Russian position is very well-known "we are against the military scenarios and the international community has to exert efforts to find out the political solution for the Iraqi crisis with the UN Security Council."

Sultanov's statement was made upon concluding talks with the Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri while replying to a question on the American threats against Iraq.

Sultanov said that the settlement should be on the ground of UN Security Council resolutions and the political framework should include the return back of the UN inspectors together with suspending the operations and sanctions imposed on Iraq since 12 years.

Sultanov said he discussed with Sabri means and ways of finding out a political solution for this problem, in remarks to the inspection and sanctions operations imposed on Iraq since 1990. He told correspondents following meeting with Sabri "we have agreed to continue our contacts and consultations."

Sultanov arrived in Baghdad from Damascus in a tour during which he will visit Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Article reprinted courtesy of Arab News: http://www.arabnews.com