Moscow: occupation troops responsible for safety of international personnel in Iraq

The occupation troops are responsible for the safety of international personnel in Iraq, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov in an interview with RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"The UN mission in Iraq should work in secure conditions and the occupying states hold the main responsibility for this," he said. This is in line with the international legislation standards and provisions of corresponding conventions, as well as the commitments the USA and Great Britain undertook earlier in the UN Security Council's Resolution 1483, he said.

Russia is ready to consider proposals aimed at ensuring the safety of UN representatives in Iraq, but these proposals have not been made so far," Fedotov pointed out.

At yesterday's session the UN Security Council adopted a statement that denounced the terrorist attack against the UN mission in Baghdad and announced the UN adherence to assisting the Iraqi people in restoring their peaceful life and justice in the country, he said. "In this connection it emphasizes the need for the UN to continue its work in Iraq in compliance with the mandate issued by the UN Security Council," the deputy minister emphasized.

"As to the UN Secretary General's stand, it is absolutely clear, and he formulates it exactly as we do: the UN will continue its work in Iraq, but the coalition forces have to ensure safety of the UN personnel," he added.