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Blair in Russia for Iraq talks
MOSCOW, Russia -- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin concerning Russia's stance on Iraq. Russia, one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council capable of vetoing such a move, has recently softened its early resistance to a new resolution on Iraq. During his flight to Moscow on Thursday, Blair made clear he wants a new ultimatum laid down to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "There must be a clear ultimatum laid down to Saddam which provides for unconditional, unrestricted access so that disarmament can happen through a weapons inspection and monitoring regime," Blair said. "And the very clear understanding is that if that doesn't happen, and if it is frustrated by Saddam, then he will have to be disarmed in a different way. "But the will of the international community has got to be done." He repeated his view that "any regime that came after Saddam would be an improvement, providing they preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq." He also said he believed there was now a growing consensus in Europe over tackling Saddam. "I think there is a general consensus in Europe growing that the issue has to be dealt with and that the U.N. must be effective one way or another. "I think we can initially get everyone on that page." Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov this week pledged to support any proposal "aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the activity of the international inspectors." White House officials viewed Ivanov's comments as a change from Moscow's stance that a new U.N. Security Council resolution is unnecessary and that weapons inspectors should return to Baghdad as soon as possible. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov echoed his boss's comments on Thursday and urged unity among Security Council members on the issue. Fedotov said Russia could support France's idea of a two-step approach: a first resolution sending weapons inspectors back to Baghdad, followed by a second one that authorised the use of force only if Iraq blocked the inspections. Washington and Britain want one resolution that authorises military action if inspectors are blocked. CNN's Mike Hanna said: "In recent days there has been a slight shift in the Russian position, signaling that it would accept another U.N. Security Council resolution that, it says, makes the work of the weapons inspectors more effective. "But it has pointed out too that it will not accept a proposal ... that paves the way or permits the use of force. It would prefer to see the use of force a last-case option." En route to Moscow, Blair denied there was a "price tag" for Russia's support. But referring to Russia's close ties to Baghdad in the oil industry, he said: "There are certainly very legitimate interests that Russia has got in terms of outstanding contracts with Iraq. They will want to know we are sensitive to that and we are."
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