Global Situation Depends On Iraq Settlement: Ivanov

The dire aftermath of Iraqi war must be overcome as soon as possible - that is crucial not only for that country but for the entire global system of international relations, said Igor Ivanov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was addressing a Moscow roundtable on the mission of Russian-based ethnic leagues.

The Iraqi crisis came as a harsh test of all UN-affiliated and other international agencies. It jeopardised fundamental international legal principles from which international relations had proceeded and on which international security had been based throughout several preceding decades.

Russian efforts to settle the crisis concern related burning issues, and envisage the elimination of crisis consequences in the involved part of the world and in the entire network of international relations.

The success of crisis settlement will determine the efficacy of essential global efforts - in particular, combat against international terrorism, drug traffic and transnational crime. Humanity cannot face those challenges unless it pools efforts, stressed the minister.