Russia: Iraq Issue Should Be Settled Through Political and Diplomatic Ways

Russia has been repeatedly stressing that Iraq issue should be settled through political and diplomatic ways. Iraq has traditionally been close to Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

On July 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed "Russia is willing to continue its active work to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Iraq issue through political and diplomatic ways only," in a telegram of congratulations to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on the 34th anniversary of the July 17-30 revolution, which brought the ruling Arab Baath Socialist Party to power in Iraq.

On July 27 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov expressed Moscow's concern over media reports regarding a possible US military strike against Iraq during his visit in Kuwait.

He added that Russia is in constant contact with countries in the region, the European Union and other countries to avoid such a situation. The peaceful and diplomatic means are still options regarding the situation in Iraq.

Saltanov's visit to Kuwait is part of his Mideast tour which has taken him to Syria, Iraq and Jordan and will also take him to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Earlier, the Russian official said the main purpose of his tour to the region is to listen to different opinions and evaluations over the current developments in the region over the situation in Iraq.

On his visit to Jordan, he said the Jordanian officials have assured him that no military operations against Iraq would be launched from Jordan.

On its part, Kuwait, a key ally of the United States and an arch-foe of Iraq, has also voiced opposition to a military strike against Iraq.

France: The Dialogue with Iraq and Close Consultation Within the United Nations over the Iraqi Problem Must Continue

The dialogue with Iraq and close consultation within the United Nations over the Iraqi problem must continue, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said in an interview with French daily Le Monde published in its Tuesday's edition.

"The negotiations with Iraq are pursuing in Vienna. It is important to maintain the dialogue and a close consultation within the field of the United Nations," said de Villepin.

"The more we press on the Iraqi regime, the more we have the obligation to push forward the search of peace in the Middle East in parallel," he said.

He also confirmed that Washington has not made decision on attacking Iraq while expressing France's stance that the status quo in the Middle East nation is not acceptable.

"Firstly, the humanitarian demand towards the Iraqi population; secondly, the security of the region which necessitates the return of arm inspectors; and finally, the stability, and the unity of Iraq, which is an important element in the general situation of the Middle East," he said.

"There is a double risk in the world: the terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons," said the French foreign minister.

"Iraq poses a grave problem in respect of international order," he said.

"The negotiations are opened in Vienna. We must continue. We should press on Iraq, pass the messages by all possible channels," he said.

Germany: Join France Not to Support Attack on Iraq

France and Germany said on Tuesday they would not support military strikes against Iraq without a mandate by the United Nations.

A resolution by the UN Security Council is necessary to launch military strikes against Iraq, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac said during a French-German summit meeting in the northern Germany city of Schwerin.

US President George W. Bush has repeatedly promised to negotiate with its European allies before taking military actions, said Schroeder.

Chirac demanded the Iraqi government to admit UN weapons inspectors to enter Iraq again.

German Defense Minster Peter Struck said: "there is no need to make decision on this issue at all at this moment."

Jordan:US Attack on Iraq Would Roil Mideast

On July 29, King Abdullah II of Jordan, stopping in London on his way to a meeting with President Bush in Washington, warned Prime Minister Tony Blair that no move should be made against Iraq until prospects for peace in the Middle East improved

Mr. Blair had expressed support for removing President Hussein, but he assured the many skeptics in Parliament that military decision was still far off.

Faulting the United States for inaction in the Mideast, King Abdullah II of Jordan was quoted as saying, "In the light of the failure to move the Israeli-Palestinian process forward, military action against Iraq would really open Pandora's box."

(Edited by Zheng Guihong for china.org.cn August 2, 2002)