Russia Urges Iraq to Cooperate with UN Inspectors, Warns of Military Strikes

Russia's efforts to broker a diplomatic settlement to the Iraq crisis have taken a firmer tone, with officials warning that the alternative to cooperation with the United Nations is a threat of force that "can become real." In a bid to avert possible air strikes by the US and its allies, Russia has urged Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to accept a UN proposal for weapons inspections and encouraged another visit by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Baghdad.

Key Takeaways:

• Russia has called for a "political solution" to the Iraq crisis, warning that the alternative is a threat of force that "can become real."
• Russia's ambassador to Iraq, Nikolai Kartuzov, met with Saddam on Friday and delivered letters from President Boris Yeltsin and Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, but the contents of the letters were not revealed.
• Saddam has stated that Iraq is ready to respond favorably to any diplomatic overture that satisfies its demands, but has refused to back down on its position.
• Russia has played a key role in the past in blunting US efforts to build a consensus for punitive strikes against Iraq, and is eager to renew trading and recover billions of dollars in back payments from Baghdad.
• Russia's special Middle East envoy, Viktor Posuvalyuk, has encouraged another trip by Annan to Baghdad, but has stressed that Iraq must give "clear guarantees" that such a trip would be successful.

Statistics:

• Iraq has sought an easing of UN sanctions since the 1991 Persian Gulf War, which were designed to prevent Saddam from rebuilding his army.
• Russia has called for a "political solution" to the crisis, warning that the alternative is a threat of force that "can become real."
• US and its allies have threatened air strikes against Iraq unless it complies with UN inspections.

Sources:

• Reuters, "Russia urges Iraqi leader to cooperate, warns of force"
• AP, "Russia warns of force in Iraq, urges cooperation"
• Ekho Moskvy radio station, quote from Viktor Posuvalyuk, special Middle East envoy for Russia
• Iraqi News Agency (INA)