Global Policy Forum

Statement by Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation

At the very beginning of our work in the Council on this matter, we started with the need to ensure that international inspectors be sent to Iraq as soon as possible, responding to the clearly stated consent by Baghdad to the inspection and monitoring activities of UNMOVIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iraq, without preconditions.

Sharing the concern of all members of the Security Council and the heads of UNMOVIC and IAEA to ensure the most effective inspection activity possible, our delegation participated constructively in work on additional procedures for inspections that would ensure there would be no resumption of Iraqi programmes for weapons of mass destruction and at the same time would create the conditions for a comprehensive settlement of the situation around Iraq, including the lifting of sanctions.

At all stages of this work, we were guided by the need to direct the process of a settlement onto a diplomatic and political path and not to allow a military scenario. As a result of intensive negotiations, the resolution just adopted contains no provisions for the automatic use of force. It is important that the resolution's sponsors today officially confirmed in the Security Council that that is their understanding and that they provided an assurance that the resolution's objective is the implementation of existing Security Council decisions concerning Iraq through inspections by the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). That is an objective shared by all members of the Council.

In that connection, it is of fundamental importance that the resolution clearly confirms that all Members of the United Nations respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and of all other States in the region. It is also confirms the need for full implementation of resolution 1382 (2001), whereby members of the Security Council undertook to seek a comprehensive settlement of the Iraq problem, which assumes the lifting of sanctions.

In addition, we note that the new resolution contains strengthened inspection procedures, which are necessary only to hasten attainment of the goal of non-resumption of Iraqi programmes relating to weapons of mass destruction. Those procedures will be implemented by the heads of UNMOVIC and of the IAEA, fully mindful of their responsibility, which requires professionalism, objectivity and impartiality.

The resolution's wording is not ideal — a fact that the sponsors themselves acknowledge — but that reflects the very complicated nature of the compromise that was reached. The Russian Federation made a choice based on principle to support the resolution, guided by its special responsibility, as a permanent member of the Security Council, for the maintenance of international peace and security. What is most important is that the resolution deflects the direct threat of war and that it opens the road towards further work in the interests of a political diplomatic settlement.

It is particularly important that — as many of my colleagues have said today — in the event of any kind of disagreement over disarmament matters, it is the heads of UNMOVIC and of the IAEA who will report that to the Security Council, and that it is the Council that will consider the situation that has developed. That is the sequence set forth clearly in paragraphs 4, 11 and 12 of the resolution.

We also note the following clarifying points, presented by the sponsors when they introduced the resolution and confirmed by the heads of UNMOVIC and of the IAEA.

First of all, with regard to paragraph 3, more than 30 days will probably be needed for Iraq to submit information on non-military programmes in the chemical and biological areas. However, any delay there will not constitute a violation.

Concerning paragraph 7, nothing in the resolution affects the status of UNMOVIC, of the IAEA or of members of their staff, as independent international personnel. The cooperation of Member States with UNMOVIC and with the IAEA will be carried out fully in accordance with the status and mandates of those organizations.

Paragraph 8 refers to personnel of the United Nations, to those of the IAEA and to any other personnel whom Members of the United Nations may provide to UNMOVIC or to the IAEA on the request of those organizations.

Like all other members of the Security Council, we join in the appeal made today by the Secretary-General on the need for Iraq to comply with all of its disarmament commitments and to cooperate fully with the inspectors of UNMOVIC and of the IAEA, on the basis of the resolution adopted today and Baghdad's declared willingness to cooperate. We note the important role that has been played and continues to be played by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and by members of the League in ensuring a comprehensive political settlement of the situation concerning Iraq.

Implementation of the resolution will require goodwill on the part of all those involved in the process of seeking a settlement of the Iraq question. They must have the willingness to concentrate on moving forward towards the declared common goals, not yielding to the temptation of unilateral interpretation of the resolution's provisions and preserving the consensus and unity of all members of the Security Council.

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