UN: International inspectors can "easily" establish whether or not Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, Russia's Defence Minister, Mr Sergei Ivanov, said yesterday in Washington.
Mr Ivanov, speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Pentagon for talks with the US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, said Russia has always supported unconditional international inspections in Iraq.
"Being experienced in that sort of business, both Americans and Russians, we can easily establish whether there exists or not weapons of mass destruction technology, some sort of programmes or preparations of something which should not be done," he said.
Asked whether international inspectors could establish that, he said, "I believe yes."
Mr Rumsfeld, who was escorting the Russian defence minister into the building, looked on as Mr Ivanov was asked whether Iraq's offer of unconditional UN inspections could be trusted. "It's not a question of trust or mistrust. It's a question of facts," Mr Ivanov said.
The Russian defence minister brushed off a question on why Russia opposed a new UN resolution on Iraq. "As for resolutions, it's none of my business whether we need one or not," he said.
Russia has not yet received Iran's agreement for Moscow to import radioactive fuel waste from an Iranian nuclear power plant that Russia is constructing in Bushehr, the atomic energy ministry said yesterday.
A month ago, Russia's atomic energy minister said Moscow had all agreements necessary for the transfer of the nuclear waste. But a ministry official said Iran had not signed up.
A new clause to the Russian-Iranian accord on Bushehr project "has been presented to Iran," the unnamed official said.