Global Policy Forum

By Rebecca Bryan

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Wednesday angrily accused the United States of unleashing an "information war" against Russia and sparking a catastrophe throughout the Persian Gulf region by the massive bombardment of 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. He also urged Washington to demonstrate "responsibility" and avoid steps that could hurt relations in the long-term.

"We are seriously concerned by the attempts of certain circles in the United States to drag Russia into an information war over Iraq by making unfounded accusations that Russian companies supplied some military equipment 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. The allegations first surfaced publicly in a report Sunday by The Washington Post.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that through the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, over the past 24 hours, he had provided Ivanov with more information to back up the allegations. 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 - apparently trying to deflect future claims of weapons finds by the U.S. and British military to shore up their argument that war was necessary.

He also accused the U.S.-British coalition of hypocrisy and of endangering the entire Persian 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. "I strongly doubt that democracy can be enforced by the Tomahawk (cruise missiles)." "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," Ivanov said.

The Foreign Ministry said Ivanov met Tuesday with the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Vershbow. In a press statement released Wednesday, the ministry said Ivanov had reiterated Moscow's objections to the war and its insistence that military action be stopped immediately and the crisis handled by the United Nations. It said the two diplomats had also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, in Afghanistan and in the Middle East, "taking into account the necessity of preserving the positive foundations of Russian-U.S. cooperation in solving the urgent problems of modern times." "We consider it inadmissible to slide back into confrontation," Ivanov said in parliament. "Whatever the situation in Iraq is, our two countries will still need to search jointly for solutions to many global problems, primarily in the fight against international terrorism."

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