MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov want international inspectors to continue their search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
"This issue cannot be considered closed. This search should be continued by both international inspectors, who are currently doing so, and appropriate international organizations set up under UN auspices," Ivanov said following Monday's talks between President Vladimir Putin and Powell in the Kremlin.
Powell said that international inspectors will continue this work in Iraq.
At the same time, the secretary of state said that the possible presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq was not on the agenda of his talks in Moscow. He said that the talks centered on the future of Iraq, its reconstruction, creating a democratic governance system in the country, international aid for the Iraqi people, and reducing Iraq's debts.