Russia ready to use veto to deter war
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, speaking in London yesterday, said Moscow was ready to use its influence.
"If the situation so demands, Russia will of course use its right of veto as an extreme measure to avoid the worst development of the situation," Ivanov said.
Despite the vow, Russian media yesterday reported that hundreds of Russians working in Iraq will be airlifted out of the country this week ahead of a looming war.
Between 600 and 650 Russians will be taken out of the country from March 6 to 10, Moscow's ambassador in Baghdad told Russia's RTR television, saying the procedure was not being called an evacuation.
Planes provided by the emergency situations ministry will fly the Russians out of the country, he said.
Last week family dependents of Russia's diplomatic staff left Iraq on advice of the Russian foreign ministry.
Russia has been one of the most vocal opponents of US plans to attack Iraq and has urged a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Many of its citizens living in Iraq are oil industry and construction specialists.
Meanwhile, France and Germany, fighting to head off a UN resolution authorizing a US-led war against Iraq, said yesterday their foreign ministers would attend a crucial UN session on Friday when weapons inspectors are due to deliver their latest report on Iraqi disarmament.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Minister Jack Straw also plan to be there and other nations were expected to follow suit.
The French and German move came as the US, Britain and Spain continued a drive to mobilise a UN Security Council majority of nine for a resolution authorising war.
The French and German UN ambassadors told the Security Council during a closed session that Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and Joschka Fischer would be attending the inspectors latest progress report.
The US is assured of only four votes in the 15-member council. France and Russia, both of which have veto power, are opposed and six other nations are on the fence, being wooed by both sides.
US President Bush has said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein must be removed because he has violated a long series of UN resolutions that compelled it to give up all nuclear, chemical, biological and ballistic missile programs. France and its supporters argue that UN inspectors are succeeding in disarming Iraq and that war is not necessary.
Washington's UN ambassador John Negroponte said yesterday: "We think that it is time for the council to face that decision, that is to decide that Iraq is not in compliance and has not taken advantage of that final opportunity."
US and British officials said the draft resolution, which declares Iraq had "failed" to meet it obligations to dismantle its banned weapons systems, should be put before the 15-member council for a vote next week.
A resolution needs a minimum of nine votes for adoption in the 15-member council and no veto from its permanent members the US, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Virtually certain to vote against the resolution or abstain are France, Russia, China, Germany and Syria.
The undecided members include Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Guinea and Cameroon. Angola and Pakistan are said to be leaning toward the US stance should no viable alternative or amendment be presented.
