Russian Defense Minister: possibility of war in Iraq "at least put off"

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is convinced that at present the possibility of war in Iraq is "at least put off", he told journalists after the session of the CIS Defense Ministers' Council.

"Speaking about the situation in Iraq and around it, I am convinced that the UN Security Council's resolution on Iraq that was adopted unanimously has at least put off the possibility of war," the minister said. He called it "a big positive step".

At the same time "it is premature to speak about further developments of the situation around Iraq," he believes.

When answering the question about possible further developments, Sergei Ivanov recalled the scheme envisioned by Resolution 1441 of the UN Security Council: "International inspection, the inspectors' reports to the UN Security Council and a final decision after these inspections".