Moscow does not expect USA to act unilaterally with respect to Iraq

Moscow does not think that the USA will undertake unilateral actions with respect to Iraq especially if the process of UN-Baghdad cooperation proceeds in a normal regime, said Russian deputy foreign minister Yuri Fedotov on Monday. According to him, despite Washington's tough statements, the USA agrees that now it is necessary to see the results of the experts' work in Iraq.

"We will try to prevent the war threat against Iraq," Fedotov said. He also pointed out that there were cases in the 1990s when bombers took off from aircraft carriers, but did not throw bombs and returned. According to Fedotov, the fact that money were earmarked and the military machine is storing up strength "does not mean anything." He recalled that the new UN Security Council resolution on Iraq did not authorise the automatic use of force. "This means that if Iraq agrees to readmit inspections there will be no military action until Iraq cooperates with the UN," the high-ranking diplomat pointed out.

The main thing, he believes, is that the new resolution on Iraq removes the direct threat of a unilateral military action against that country.