Russia's Diplomatic Efforts in Iraq: A Critical Deadline Looms

Russian Foreign Ministry officials announced that a message from President Boris Yeltsin has been handed to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by special envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk, amidst ongoing efforts to resolve the Iraqi crisis. As U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan prepares to visit Baghdad, the message emphasizes Russia's stance on the necessity of all Iraqi sites being open to inspection, while taking into account Baghdad's sovereignty concerns. This development comes as the international community anxiously awaits Annan's arrival, seen as a last chance for Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions and avoid a military strike.

Key Takeaways:

• Russian Foreign Ministry officials met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, delivering a message from President Boris Yeltsin, which outlines Russia's position on U.N. inspections in Iraq.
• The message highlights Russia's support for the principle of all Iraqi sites being open to inspection, with consideration for Baghdad's sovereignty concerns.
• This development is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iraqi crisis, with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit being a critical deadline for Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions.
• French diplomatic efforts have also been ongoing, but so far, no credible breakthroughs have been achieved.
• Annan's visit is perceived as Baghdad's last chance to comply with U.N. resolutions and avoid a potential military strike.
• The Polish embassy in Baghdad is being evacuated by unconfirmed reports, as Poland currently represents U.S. interests in Iraq.

Statistics:

• Viktor Posuvalyuk, Russian special envoy to Iraq, has been holding talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad for almost three weeks.
• The message handed to Saddam Hussein by Posuvalyuk concerns U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's upcoming visit to Baghdad.
• The visit is seen as a last chance for Iraq to comply with U.N. resolutions, with no credible breakthroughs reported in previous French and Russian diplomatic efforts.
• Poland currently represents U.S. interests in Iraq, with some Polish diplomats being evacuated from the embassy in Baghdad due to unconfirmed reports.

Sources:

• Moscow, Feb. 19: Russian Foreign Ministry officials citing United Press International
• United Press International, Copyright 1998 by United Press International. All rights reserved.