MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow is opposed to the post-conflict settlement in Iraq beginning with turning over a new leaf, a Russian diplomat told Interfax on Monday.
"The solution for the Iraq problem should begin from the point at which it was interrupted by the war. With the beginning of the military operation of the United States and its allies in Iraq, the United Nations was forced to take a pause. Nevertheless, all of the international community's previous decisions on Iraq remain in force and should be implemented," he said.
This also applies to lifting sanctions against Iraq and resuming international disarmament monitoring in that country, the source said.
Last week Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that sanctions against Iraq can be lifted only by a UN Security Council resolution. "Before the Security Council makes such a decision, we should see whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or not," he said, adding that Russia has always supported lifting sanctions against Iraq as soon as possible.
Neither does Moscow agree with the U.S. proposal to curtail the UN oil-for-food program.
"The occupation forces are responsible for guaranteeing security and resolving humanitarian problems caused by the hostilities. The UN program is meant to minimize the aftermath of the international sanctions for the population. They should be lifted only after meeting the conditions in the corresponding Security Council resolutions on Iraq," the diplomat told Interfax.
Commenting on the statements from American representatives on the possible deployment of a stabilization force in Iraq that could involve Russia, the diplomat said that Moscow has not received any suggestions to this end. "There was no such issue and if it were raised, Russian's negative reaction would be predictable," he said.