Iraq and Russia united on sanctions

Aziz says Russia will block moves on U.N. sanctions against Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi officials are commending Russia's rejection of a U.S.-backed British proposal on Iraqi sanctions being discussed at the U.N.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it will oppose the British plan if it comes to a U.N. Security Council vote on July 3 and has proposed an alternative.

Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said: ''Russia announced that it will not allow the U.S.-British-French proposal to pass. This is the most important development."

Aziz's comments came on Wednesday, the day after Iraq's vice president also praised Russia's rejection of the U.S.-Anglo sanctions proposal.

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Taha Yassin Ramadan was quoted by Iraq's news agency as saying "the deceitful proposal that America and its ally Britain are trying to pass in the U.N. Security Council not only targets Iraq, but also other Arab countries and friendly countries that have trade and economic ties with Iraq."

Ramadan expressed his confidence that the proposal will fail.

Aziz said acting Iraqi Foreign Minister Riyad el Qaisi is heading to the U.N. and intends to read a statement "that expresses (Iraq's) rejection of the proposal whose chances of being passed by the Security Council decrease everyday.''

July 3 is the self-imposed deadline the Security Council has given itself to come to an agreement on Iraq.

This is the latest sign of erosion of council unity on how to break a stalemate on the future of sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The British plan was introduced in a resolution to extend the U.N. oil-for-food program which allows Iraq to sell unlimited quantities of oil provided the money mainly goes to the purchase of food and humanitarian supplies.

When the council could not agree on a sanctions overhaul by early June, members extended the oil-for-food program for 30 days, instead of the usual six months, to give negotiators extra time to reach agreement.

Iraq, in protest, stopped U.N.-monitored oil exports to all but its neighbours.

The U.S. and Britain want to overhaul the sanctions, imposed by the U.N. after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990.

The two countries introduced a resolution that would end restrictions on sending civilian goods to Iraq, but maintain controls on military items.

They want the new resolution wrapped into an extension for an oil-for-food extension.

Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Sergey Lavrov said that "we can't agree with this document, which can't go on through.

"It would seem that this new scheme is to be introduced without the consent of Baghdad, and this is utterly unrealistic and moreover it is contrary to the decisions of the council about the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq."

The Russian plan would require U.N. inspectors -- within 60 days of starting work in Iraq -- to come up with a list of the key remaining disarmament talks to be completed by Iraq and precise details of what is required to complete each one, so sanctions can be lifted.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. James Cunningham said that "it is the height of irony at the very moment my government and others are prepared to undertake this radical shift in direction, we find ourselves under attack by others who have long pressed for a change to the system.

"These states, like the government of Iraq, seek to perpetrate the status quo now instead of looking ahead."