A closed State Duma session on situation around Iraq - 27 September, 2002

The State Duma international committee has opened a closed-doors session on the Iraqi issue on Friday. Russia's Foreign Minister is expected to speak at the session.

Two weeks ago at the plenary State Duma session the issue on the Iraqi situation was brought up. However, the international committee thinks that they should not make hasty decisions and work out the issue at the special session with the participation of the foreign minister, representatives of power departments, leaders of Duma factions.

Russia's position on the settlement of the Iraqi issue lies in the return of inspectors to Iraq. Russia hopes that the international inspectors will soon resume their work and find out if Iraq has developed a programme of producing weapons of mass destruction or not. Russia thinks that the UN Security Council should see that the work of inspectors is done within their powers and not hindered.