MOSCOW. July 21 (Interfax) - Russian specialists could be evacuated, or moved to safe areas if the situation in Iraq deteriorates.
"The situation is not quite favorable, to put mildly, for our companies' work in Iraq. But Russian specialists continue working in that country. Naturally enough, if the situation continues deteriorating additional decisions will have to be made in order to guarantee safety to our personnel. They could be evacuated, or moved to safe areas," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in an interview with Interfax.
"No one doubts that the American side bears its share of responsibility for the situation in Iraq. I am not saying we should rake up the past. But if no lessons are drawn from the unilateral military intervention in Iraq in March 2003, it will be hard to amend the mistakes made and not to make them again," the Russian diplomat said.
"Concerning our economic operators and comopanies' presence in Iraq, Russian-Iraqi business ties have been steadily developing in many areas. Our long-standing relations with Baghdad are based on mutual respect and mutual interests," he said.
Gatilov was commenting on experts' assertions that Washington has been delaying aid to Iraq in an attempt to "force out Russian companies working in Iraq's field and energy complex."