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Bush is talkin Igor Ivanov, right, and Sergei Ivanov, left, into backing his war against Iraq
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MOSCOW,
September 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Russian President
Vladimir Putin told his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush in a telephone
conversation Friday, September 20, 2002, that he supported the return
of weapons inspectors as soon as possible to Iraq. Bush, however,
tries to secure Moscow's support for possible military action against
Iraq.
The
two leaders also agreed to meet on the sidelines of next month's
summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Mexico,
Interfax news agency quoted top Kremlin spokesman Alexei Gromov as
saying, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Bush
telephoned Putin as he was due to meet in Washington with Russian
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov for
talks focusing on U.S. threats to launch a military assault on Iraq.
The
official purpose of Bush's meeting with the two Russian Ministers was
to discuss implementing a treaty on cutting nuclear warheads which the
two sides signed earlier this year.
However,
correspondents say the session is
likely to be dominated by Iraq.
The
Kremlin aide said Bush and Putin focused on Baghdad's unexpected
decision this week to allow UN inspectors back into Iraq for the first
time since 1998.
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| Bush seems determined to invade Iraq, no matter how many civilians will be killed, and regardless of the existance of a reason
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The
Bush administration is also pressing for a firm new resolution from
the UN Security Council - where Russia wields veto power - that sets
out tough conditions for Iraq's compliance with the inspectors.
The
proposed U.S. resolution would also outline the consequences that Iraq
would face should it fail to comply.
According
to BBC's online news service, Bush has two incentives to offer, to win
over the Russians.
He
might suggest that Russia will have a bigger role to play in
rebuilding Iraq after a war if it is helpful to Washington before any
such conflict.
Russia
has much to lose if its economic ties with Iraq are cut, reported BBC
Washington correspondent.
Bush
might also agree to intervene in the dispute between Russia and
Georgia over the presence of Chechen rebels in the Pankisi Gorge.
The
Kremlin strongly criticized the Georgian authorities for doing nothing
effective to deal with rebels - but the U.S. has so far opposed
Moscow's threat of military intervention there.
However,
Russia has so far spoken out against a need for the new resolution on
Iraq, viewed as Moscow's traditional ally, and instead urged Baghdad
to comply with existing UN resolutions on inspections.
The Kremlin did not specify whether this subject was broached during
Friday's telephone conversation.
The
Kremlin spokesman added that the two leaders also discussed strategic
stability details, although no further details on that subject were
released.
The Americans claim that the Iraqi offer to allow in weapons
inspectors is a ploy.
Secretary
of State Colin Powell said Washington will find ways to prevent their
return unless there is a new UN resolution on the issue.
Washington
regards Russia's refusal to accept the need for a new Security Council
resolution as a recipe for delay and failure.
On
Thursday, Sergei Ivanov said Russia remained opposed to the option of
war.
Asked
whether he believed Baghdad would give the UN unfettered access to its
suspected weapons facilities, Ivanov said, "I think the
inspectors should give that answer. It's not a question of trust or
mistrust. It's a question of facts".
