US Hoping for Russian Support in UN

The USA is hoping to get Russia's support for an American resolution on Iraq.

In answer to a RIA Novosti question, US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow said that the draft resolution on Iraqi would be discussed during US Secretary of State Colin Powell's trip to Russia on May 14th-15th. Vershbow reiterated that the draft resolution focused on lifting sanctions against Iraq and defining the UN's role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

The ambassador said that this would be the main subject of the talks, as the US had already presented Russia with the draft resolution during a trip to Moscow made by Assistant Secretary of State Kim Holmes. Vershbow stressed that the US side was hoping that a common approach to this important issue could be found after the draft had been studied.

In addition, the diplomat said that Powell's visit would also focus on bilateral relations in general in the run-up to President George Bush's trip to St. Petersburg. Vershbow has emphasised that the USA is hoping that the visit will provide co-operation between the countries with a new boost.

When answering a question as whether or not Washington had received any official reaction from Moscow to the draft resolution, the ambassador indicated that "constructive discussions" had taken place in New York. He added that the Russian side had posed many questions about the essence of the draft resolution.