Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov: Russian-US talks in Washington focused on Iraq - 21 September, 2002 - News

The Russian-US talks in Washington focused on Iraq, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told a final press conference, following the talks.

According to Ivanov, Moscow comes out not only for the preservation, but also for the consolidation of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. "We shall try to secure it both at multilateral and bilateral levels. Due to this stand the international community achieved the return of international inspectors to Iraq without any preliminary conditions," Ivanov said, pointing to the US and Russia's contribution.

International inspectors will start working soon and will answer to the question if Iraq is planning to create weapons of mass destruction or not, the Russian Foreign Minister said. Therefore, Russia, the USA and the international community were interested in their soonest return.

The UN Security Council should take under strict control the work of the inspectors, which is to be carried out according to their powers and without any obstacles, Ivanov noted. Ivanov is convinced that Iraq will implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council.