Russia joins France and Germany

"Michael Petukhov" wrote in message
om...
http://www1.iraqwar.ru/iraq-read_art...=18346&lang=en

TASHKENT - Russia added its skeptical voice Friday to those of France
and Germany by saying that a UN resolution proposed by Washington to
set up a multinational force in Iraq needed a lot more work.

"The US draft is moving toward principles (supported by Russia) but
for them to be outlined (in the resolution) in full, the document
needs very serious work," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told
reporters.

"This initiative deserves attention because the draft resolution in
part reflects principles that Russia had been repeatedly fighting
for," Russia's top diplomat added while attending a meeting of
regional foreign ministers in the Uzbek capital.

France and Germany -- nations that along with Russia bitterly opposed
the US-led war -- have already expressed opposition to the new
resolution and the Kremlin said French President Jacques Chirac called
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss the latest
standoff with Washington.

The first consultations on the draft were due to begin Friday in New
York.
The draft US resolution does not explicitly place the United States in
charge of the force. But it says the United States would report to the
Security Council on efforts undertaken by the international
contingent.

The resolution also gives the United Nations a role in deciding a
timetable for a democratic government to be established. Russia --
which has sought a central role for the United Nations in Iraq -- has
veto power on the world-governing body as a permanent UN Security
Council member. So does China, whose Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing was
more cautious in his criticism of the US plan at the Tashkent talks
Friday. "Iraq needs a government which will have the support of all
the Iraqi people and Iraq's neighbors. The situation in Iraq needs to
be returned to the framework of the United Nations." China has for the
large part tried to keep out of the Iraqi dispute and preserve its
relations with both the peace and war camps. The Chinese foreign
ministry released a separate statement saying Beijing was
"conscientiously studying" the new draft and was taking a
"constructive attitude ... and hopes that all sides can reach a
consensus as soon as possible."

Moscow is also taking steps to repair any damage done by Iraq to its
US relations ahead of this month's Camp David summit between US
President George W. Bush and Putin. Putin had said earlier that Moscow
saw nothing negative in an international force in Iraq under US
command.

russian forces under US command? you must hate the very thought eh michael?


And Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov hinted for the first time Thursday
that Russia may send peacekeepers to Iraq in response to Washington's
pleas for additional international help. But the Russian foreign
minister on Friday appeared to quash such suggestions by saying that
Russia's participation was "not realistically being examined."

he likes to keep everyone guessing.


And he unleashed unexpected criticism of Washington's handling of the
daily violence raging in occupied Iraq. "I'm surprised that several of
Washington's representatives say that in Iraq the situation is getting
better and better -- but day by day the situation gets worse and worse
and requires the help of the international community," the foreign
minister said.

why is he surprised? it is similar to what the russian govt. did for years
in chechnya.