Date : 03/03/2003
Russia's stand on Iraqi problem remains unchanged
MOSCOW, March 3 (KUNA) -- A group of experts from the Russian Foreign
Ministry and Defense Ministry flew to New York for holding talks on practical
involvement of Russian troops in the continuing monitoring done by the
international inspectors in Iraq, The Itar-Tass news agency said.
Colonel General Yuri Baluyevsky, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the
Russian Armed Forces, on Monday ruled out the possibility of the participation
of Russian troops in an armed operation in Iraq.
Russia is going "to do its utmost for preventing a direct confrontation in
the Gulf area, because a war inevitably involves the loss of life, including
among the civilian population," he said.
"The only thing the Russian troops may do in Iraq is monitoring and
assistance to the international inspectors," he said.
He said a warplane has been prepared in Russia, which could do aerial
reconnaissance and could pass the information obtained to the international
inspectors. (end)
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