Collective Security Treaty Members Urge for Peaceful Track for Iraqi Problem

Participants in the sixth session of the Committee of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty have called for bringing the Iraqi problem back into a peaceful channel.

The statement, which was adopted at the committee's plenary session yesterday, expresses great concern over "the launch of the military action against Iraq, which has already resulted in human losses." "The military operations launched by the United States without the sanction of the UN Security Council contradict the principles and norms of international law," the statement reads. "They are fraught with grave consequences for the entire system of global security also because of the uncompleted anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan." In this connection, the forum participants do not rule out that "a large-scale humanitarian and ecological disaster may hit the region which is situated in close vicinity to the borders with the Collective Security Treaty member countries.

"We believe it necessary to bring the situation back into peaceful track as soon as possible and to find a solution to the Iraqi problem on the basis of the principles of international law and under the aegis of the United Nations," the statement points out.

The members of the Committee of the Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty member countries say it is necessary to take into account "the legitimate interests of the Iraqi people" and to preserve "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq."