PARIS. Feb 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russia opposes military action against Iraq.
Actions in relation to Iraq can be taken only within the framework of the UN Security Council, Ivanov told a news conference in Paris on Friday following negotiations with his French counterpart.
"Any unilateral actions, especially those contradicting the resolutions and decisions of the UN Security Council, may aggravate the situation with Iraq and in the area in general even more," Ivanov said.
Ivanov also said that any unilateral actions "in which the opinion of the other members of the anti-terrorist coalition are not taken into account could weaken the united front of the fight against terrorism."
Ivanov called on Iraq to resume dialogue with the UN secretary general and take "a more accepting stance" towards the position of the international community, which wants international experts to return to Iraq.
The Russian minister said that before considering lifting sanctions from Iraq, the international community has to be sure that Baghdad does not have weapons of mass destruction or the capability to produce them.
For this reason Russia wants international experts to return to Iraq and fulfil their mission. After this has been done, "it is necessary to start the procedure of lifting the sanctions" from Iraq, Ivanov said.
Ivanov said that sanctions can be lifted from Baghdad "only by the UN Security Council, which imposed them."