Igor Ivanov and Colin Powell to Discuss UN Role in Iraq Post-War Settlement

The role of the UN and the world community in the Iraqi post-war settlement will be one of the key issues at Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Aleksander Yakovenko disclosed on the eve of the forthcoming May 14th-15th visit by Colin Powell to Moscow.

According to Yakovenko, "both sides will discuss the key issues of the world, including the situation in Iraq after the military operation of the coalition forces is completed." "Russia stands for the immediate Iraqi post-war settlement within the framework of the UN and its Security Council regulations," he stressed.

The issue concerning the developing humanitarian situation in Iraq is also to be discussed in the course of the meeting, Yakovenko said. Moscow believes, "that the proper UN involvement in the settlement of the Iraqi issue corresponds to the interests of the world society," Yakovenko said.