Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Wednesday sternly warned the United States away from unleashing an "information war" against Russia and poured scorn on the war in Iraq.
In an appearance before the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, Ivanov reiterated Moscow's firm intention to block any attempts to legitimize the war through the United Nations Security Council.
"We are seriously concerned by the attempts of certain circles in the United States to drag Russia into an information war that resorts to unfounded accusations that Russian companies supplied some dual-use technologies to Iraq, bypassing the sanctions," Ivanov said.
The White House alleges that Russian companies provided Iraq with anti-tank guided missiles, night-vision goggles and satellite jamming devices in violation of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. However, Ivanov said Wednesday, "No one has given us any proof."
Ivanov severely criticized the war, which he called illegitimate, and said only international inspectors could determine whether Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. He also accused the US-British coalition of hypocrisy and of endangering the entire Gulf region.
"They say that the Iraqi people is oppressed by the tyrant, must be liberated and given democracy. And look how they are trying to achieve this goal: by using the most powerful weapons in history," Ivanov said. "What democracy are they talking about when they are trying to completely destroy the country?"
"If such massive bombardment continues, a humanitarian, economic and environmental catastrophe will become inevitable in the near future, not only in Iraq but in the whole region." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
