Iraqi issue to remain priority during Russia's Security Council chairmanship

Most members of the UN Security Council stand for working out a concerted approach to the closure of Iraqi mass destruction weapons programmes on the basis of certification by the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the IAEA. According to Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov, this was confirmed by the discussion of the report by Hans Blix, the head of UNMOVIC, in the Security Council.

"We hope that the coalition countries will inform the SC on their own search of WMD in Iraq," Fedotov stressed. According to him, the Iraqi issue will remain one of the Security Council priorities during Russia's chairmanship there this July.

"The Council should continue intense work for the implementation of Resolution 1483 on Iraq," deputy foreign minister said.

"Our chairmanship will aspire, in the tideway of Russia's responsible and transparent foreign policy line, to enhancing constructive partnership with all members of the Security Council, focusing on the issues that are crucial for us," Fedotov assured.