Moscow: Urging the international community to mount diplomatic efforts for a
political solution of Iraq crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 30
said their success would be of crucial importance for the new emerging world order.
Receiving credentials from a number of new Ambassadors at a Kremlin ceremony, Putin
expressed concern at the tension around Iraq, West Asia and North Korea.
"The recent weeks and days, unfortunately, have given us occasion for concern.
Tension around Iraq continues, the Middle East situation remains complex, while
prospects for resolving the so-called 'North Korean nuclear problem' remain
uncertain," Putin said.
"These and other issues, not only raise concerns, but also serve as a kind of
stimulus for re-doubling international efforts to find political and diplomatic
methods of tackling current issues of the global agenda," he was quoted as saying by
RIA Novosti.
"The success of these efforts will determine the realisation of our common strategic
goal to form a just Democratic world order built on generally accepted principles
and norms of international Law. Above all, on the observance of the UN Charter, on
relations of equality and partnership between all states," Putin said.
Meanwhile, Moscow announced that Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov would fly to New York
for the UN Security Council meet on February 5, at which US Secretary of State Colin
Powell is to unveil secrets about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Ivanov, speaking in Bulgarian capital Sofia, said Moscow would trust the US
allegations about Saddam Hussein's links with al-Qaida on the basis of irrefutable
proof.
PTI
