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A decision to lift sanctions against Iraq can only be made by the UN Security Council based on a conclusion made by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) confirming the absence of banned weapons in Iraq, Interfax quoted a Foreign Ministry source as saying on Thursday.
"There is a UN Security Council resolution for this, which clearly stipulates the disarmament of Iraq -- something international inspectors must decide," an official with the ministry said on condition of anonymity.
In this respect, "Russia wants UN inspectors to return to Iraq to complete their work and determine whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction or not," he said.
"Lifting sanctions from Iraq in any other way will be seen as violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and will affect the unity and authority of the Security Council," he added.
US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he would soon propose a UN resolution ending the 12-year-old economic sanctions because of the regime change.
The United Nations imposed sweeping sanctions on Iraq after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990. These sanctions included a ban on all trade with Iraq, an embargo on its oil exports and an arms embargo.
Russia insisted that the regime change in Baghdad should not be a condition for lifting UN sanctions against Iraq and it will not offer support without UN inspectors' confirmation that the country has no weapons of mass destruction.
Russia, a steadfast opponent to the US-led war against Iraq, has insisted on a central role by the United Nations in the post-war Iraq settlement, fearing that the US-British coalition would dominate the process.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2003)
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