3.6 |
Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to January
2003
735.
During a visit
to Kiev on 28 January, President Putin stated that
international
security
was “a more important issue than Iraq” and that any steps on the
Iraqi problem
must be
taken through the Security Council. Iraq was co‑operating so far
but:
“… if Iraq
begins to create problems for the inspectors, Russia can change
its
position
and reach an agreement with the US on developing different,
tougher
decisions
in the Security Council.”248
736.
In a separate
statement, Mr Igor Ivanov stressed that inspections must
continue,
but that
Iraq must co‑operate actively, giving the inspectors “every
possible assistance”.
There were
“a lot of unclear questions” remaining about chemical and
biological
weapons. He
criticised Iraqi officials who had stated that Iraq might attack
Kuwait
in the
event of a war. That did not promote “the necessary conditions for
continuing
political
efforts to settle the Iraq situation”. Russia was firmly opposed to
military action
both
against Iraq and from its territory. Unilateral action against Iraq
would split the
anti‑terrorist
coalition. Russia would direct its efforts to “thinking how to
avoid a veto” and
finding a
solution that would preserve the important unity of the Security
Council. If Iraq
committed
“flagrant violations” of resolution 1441, the Security Council
should consider
“the
possibility of additional steps” to meet the requirements of the
resolution.
737.
Sir Roderic
Lyne commented that the two statements “seemed to mark a
shift
in Russian
rhetoric on Iraq”.
738.
In his
State of the Union address on 28 January, President Bush set out
his
view that
Iraq’s actions demonstrated it had decided not to take the final
chance
to disarm.
Saddam Hussein had shown “utter contempt” for that offer; he
was
deceiving
the international community, not disarming. The US would not
wait
to act
until the threat from Iraq was imminent.
739.
President
Bush announced that the US had asked for a meeting of
the
Security Council on 5 February at which Secretary Powell would
present
information
and intelligence on Iraq’s illegal programmes.
740.
In his “State
of the Union” address on 28 January, President Bush emphasised
the
threat of
terrorism to the US and others, the potential threat from Iraq in
that context, and
the need to
disarm Iraq.249
741.
President
Bush’s detailed statements about the threat posed by Iraq are set
out
in the
Box below.
248
Telegram 32
Moscow to FCO London, 29 January 2003, ‘Russia/Iraq: Putin/Ivanov
Statements’.
249
The White
House Press Release, 28 January 2003, President
Delivers “State of the Union”.
131