-Caveat Lector- http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/primenews/story/0,1870,141375,00.html
Russia threatens to veto any UN move to attack Iraq Moscow says it has not seen a 'single well-founded argument' that Saddam's regime represents a threat to America MOSCOW - Russia said it had seen no 'single well-founded argument' that Iraq represents a threat to the United States and warned it would veto any measure for military action against Baghdad that comes before the United Nations Security Council. 'We hope... that this question will not be placed before the Security Council, thereby necessitating the veto,' Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said in a blunt message to the US after meeting his Iraqi counterpart, Mr Naji Sabri, here. Russia, Iraq's biggest trade partner, has come out strongly against US military action to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and has echoed Baghdad's calls for a diplomatic settlement. But in his talks on Monday, he also pressed Baghdad to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors. He stressed that the resumption of inspections was necessary 'for the regularisation of the situation and for the lifting of sanctions... I don't see any alternative'. Mr Ivanov's statements appeared to indicate that the Kremlin is putting heavy pressure on Iraq, with whom it has cultivated close ties. Russia fears a war would complicate the tense Middle East situation and jeopardise its economic interests in Iraq, which owes it US$7 billion (S$12.3 billion). At the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said Baghdad was ready to discuss a return of UN inspectors but only with other issues, such as ending sanctions and restoring Iraqi sovereignty over its territory. It has been a stance UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has previously rejected. His spokesman said he urged Mr Tariq to comply with Security Council resolutions calling for the unconditional return of inspectors. Mr Tariq said earlier: 'You have to find a solution for all these matters, not only pick up one certain aspect of it.' He also accused the US of being uninterested in talks. US Secretary of State Colin Powell was en route to Johannesburg for the Earth Summit, where he was expected to face criticism over threats by President George W. Bush to attack Iraq. Washington has said that it aims to overthrow the Iraqi leader. Mr Powell, seen as a Bush Cabinet moderate, has said Iraq allowing UN inspectors back would be a 'first step'. He made the comment shortly after US Vice-President Dick Cheney said there was no point in sending inspectors back into Iraq and pushed for military action. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that Britain will publish evidence of Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction in 'the next few weeks'. 'A lot of the work has already been done,' he said. 'There needs to be some more work... but I think probably the best thing to do is to publish that within the next few weeks... We will produce whatever we have.' -- AP, AFP <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
