Russian Parliament Calls on USA to Stop Military Operation in Iraq - 4 April, 2003

The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, is going to call on the USA and its allies to immediately stop the military operation in Iraq and comply with the UN Security Council's Resolution 1441. Deputy Chairman of the Duma international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachev said that the draft statement of the State Duma to be considered at the Friday plenary session of the house, contained this appeal. According to Kosachev, the draft document states that this operation is undoubtedly illegitimate.

It also points out that "as a result of massive bombings, people die, including peaceful civilians with many women and children among them, and vitally important infrastructure and monuments of the world civilisation are being destroyed." The document also stresses that "Iraq is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe." The State Duma believes, the draft statement says, that "the declared causes are hardly a good ground for continuing the destructive actions of the anti-Iraqi coalition." The State Duma points out that it is necessary to stop hostilities and settle the situation around the Republic of Iraq, as soon as possible, by peaceful means and in compliance with the decisions of the UN Security Council, which should play the main role in this process and in the future restoration of Iraq.