MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will not support a unilateral military operation against Iraq, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said at a news conference in the Kremlin on Tuesday, in answer to a question from Interfax.
He said there are many resources and possibilities available to settle the Iraqi problem diplomatically. "Force must be used only when all other resources have been tapped. The potential for settlement has not been exhausted yet," Ivanov said.
He announced that his talks with colleagues at a meeting of the UN Security Council revealed that most Security Council members favor further use of diplomatic and peaceful means for settling the Iraqi problem.
"Russia, like many other members of the Security Council, believes the inspectors must continue their work in Iraq and establish whether or not Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. If such weapons are found, the inspectors must document their elimination," said Ivanov.