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Iraq: Russia Says Talks on Sanctions Made Progress U.S.-Russian talks last week on revising U.N. sanctions against Iraq resulted in “real progress,” Russian Foreign Ministry officials said Friday. Russian negotiators, however, insist on simplifying sanctions — not tightening them — and the two sides continue to disagree on certain issues, the officials said. “Real progress has been achieved in clarifying questions, although certain differences remain, and also with regard to the need to narrow the spheres of disagreement,” a ministry statement said. The statement followed a U.S. report that the negotiating teams had made progress (see GSN, Feb. 8). The two countries agreed to meet again in mid-March to continue negotiating sanctions revisions, which are scheduled to take effect by the end of May. The U.S.-Russian talks follow an agreement in November to extend the oil-for-food program in Iraq and negotiate a list of dual-use goods that would require U.N. approval before Iraq could import them (see GSN, Nov. 30). The United States agreed to review requirements for lifting sanctions as long as weapons inspectors could return it Iraq, but Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said Friday he would not allow inspectors to return (Reuters/Moscow Times, Feb. 11). Putin Warns Bush Against Attacking Iraq Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he disagrees with U.S. President George W. Bush’s statement that Iraq, Iran and North Korea form an “axis of evil,” and he warned Bush against attacking Iraq (see GSN, Feb. 6). “We oppose the drawing up of blacklists,” Putin said in reference to the “axis of evil” phrase. Iraq is “completely different” from Afghanistan, he said. Iraq does present problems, and Russia is willing to help solve some of those problems, he said. “Such problems cannot be solved by one country alone,” Putin said. Iraq does not have nuclear weapons, Putin said, adding that sending weapons inspectors back into the country would be the best way to ensure Iraq does not develop them, rather than military action (see GSN, Feb. 7). “We have not yet used all the instruments available to us to know what we need to know. Why should we turn to other measures while there are still possibilities in the hands of the international community?” Russia-U.S. Relations Are Good Despite his disagreement with Bush over Iraq, Putin said the two presidents had developed a “new level of trust, a very high level of trust” between their countries. “Our cooperation is the most important factor for stability in the world, and we should never forget that,” Putin said. U.S. Pressure on Iraq Continues Meanwhile, the Bush administration said it is considering all options regarding Iraq. The Iraqi leader “is on notice, and we will deal with Saddam Hussein in a manner and at the time of our choosing,” said Sean McCormack, National Security Council spokesman (House/Higgins, Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11).
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