Russia to Push for Resumption of Comprehensive Humanitarian Aid to Iraq

The Russian Foreign Ministry is going to push for the restart of comprehensive humanitarian aid to the Iraqi population, the ministry's PR department says. Efforts toward that end will be part of wide-ranging activities aimed at solving the Iraqi conflict through diplomacy within the UN Security Council, it explains. Due account should be taken of the interests of the "outside participants" in humanitarian programs for Iraq, including Russian exporters, ministry spokespeople point out.

On April 2, Foreign Ministry officials had a meeting with corporate executives planning to contribute to the relief efforts. The sides reportedly discussed the looming humanitarian disaster in Iraq and UN Security Council Resolution 1472 on the reinstatement of the Oil for Food program. At the meeting, the Russian exporters were given detailed explanations as to the priority measures being taken by the UN to meet the most urgent needs of Iraq's civilian population. These measures are also aimed at preventing the accumulation of new problems related to humanitarian aid for Iraq, particularly at reducing the losses incurred by exporters as a result of the U.S.-led military campaign against Iraq, ministry spokespeople say.