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) ans.mab KUNA 031815 Mar 03NNNN