RUSSIA/UN: Russia rebuffed Washington's attempts to force the pace over the Iraqi crisis yesterday, saying Moscow would not countenance war until all hope of a peaceful solution to the arms impasse was exhausted, writes Daniel McLaughlin, in Moscow.
"We do not see today any grounds for passing a United Nations resolution that would envisage or sanction the use of force against Iraq," Foreign Minister Mr Igor Ivanov told reporters, after President Bush said he would favour a new UN Security Council mandate threatening Baghdad with war if it refused to disarm.
"We always underlined that the use of force is an extreme measure, which involves grave consequences for the country and grave international consequences and it should only be applied in extreme situations," Mr Ivanov said.
Any new resolution should be aimed only at reinforcing the arms inspectors' mandate.
His comments aligned Russia with France - a fellow veto-wielding member of the Security Council - ahead of President Vladimir Putin's trip to Paris at the start of next week. He will also visit Germany, another major European power to oppose Washington's increasingly bellicose rhetoric.
US Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that international "momentum is building" to disarm Baghdad, as he prepared to join at least 30 other defence and foreign ministers in Munich for an annual security conference.
He was due to meet Russian Defence Minister Mr Sergei Ivanov, who said earlier in the day that Moscow would do everything it could to avert war in the Gulf.
"The inspectors are trusted. Did they find anything in Iraq? So far - no," Mr Ivanov said. No one should expect them to deliver a definitive report on Iraq's weapons status when the UN Security Council next convenes.
"I doubt that by February 14th the international inspectors will be able to pronounce a final verdict on all of the questions they were presented with by the UN Security Council and the international community," Mr Ivanov said.
He specifically rejected Washington's suggestion of a new UN mandate.
"It is too early to make decisions or consider new resolutions."
Moscow's defence chief cast doubts on the testimony of US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell to the Security Council this week.
"In the end, it is difficult to hide places where fissile materials are contained, it is difficult to hide mobile labs - there ought to be traces," Mr Ivanov said.
He added that it was also "difficult to confirm statements on links between the Iraqi regime and al-Qaeda or other international terrorist organisations."
Moscow has maintained close ties with Iraq during its decade in the diplomatic wilderness, and Russia's energy firms have signed several major deals to develop Iraqi oilfields once UN sanctions are lifted.
Analysts say Moscow dreads the prospect of US oil giants tearing up those contracts after toppling President Saddam Hussein, leaving Russia sidelined as Western firms pump enough Iraqi oil to depress the high world prices which are currently flooding Kremlin coffers and keeping the nation's budget on track.
Finance Minister Mr Alexei Kudrin yesterday played down fears of financial trouble for Moscow if Washington does invade Iraq, saying Russia would cope with any difficulties.