Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary Regarding Problem of Violation of Sanctions Regime Against Iraq

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: How could you comment on the US Senate report charging Russia and a number of other states with violations of the former sanctions regime against Iraq in the course of the implementation of the oil-for-food program?

Answer: Moscow has taken note of the report of the subcommittee on investigations of the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs alleging violations by Russia of the sanctions regime against Iraq in the course of the carrying out of the UN humanitarian operation in that country.

In this connection we are bewildered by the thrust of the report, in which Russia is incriminated by the very fact of its participation in the Iraq humanitarian program. It is difficult to avoid the impression that the senators are trying to discredit the United Nations as a whole, pointing fingers at other countries while leaving the participation of American firms in the oil-for-food program implementation outside the brackets. Yet it would be more logical for them to attend to seeking violations in their own country, especially as the Senate committee has a necessary mandate.

It will be recalled that this program was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council in 1996 as a measure to ease the humanitarian suffering of the 25 million Iraqi people as a result of the long-standing embargo, and was in force until March 2003, when it was suspended on account of the unilateral, in circumvention of the SC decision, military action of the coalition to remove the regime in Baghdad.

Russia, along with other states of the world, participated in humanitarian supplies to Iraq and in Iraqi oil export operations. Furthermore, the activity of Russian companies related to the humanitarian operation was being carried out in strict accordance with the legislative acts of the Russian Federation, which required of our exporters an undeviating observance of the sanctions regime.

As is known, in April 2004 - against the backdrop of the numerous media reports of abuses by the UN Secretariat and individual states in the program - the UN Secretary General took the decision to establish an independent commission to establish the real facts in this sphere.

Russia, abiding by its international obligations, has been cooperating with this independent Commission, which Paul Volcker leads. Toward this end, a special working group has been set up at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Over the past six months Commission members were twice received in Moscow, where thorough consultations were held with them and the modalities of the Russian participation in the humanitarian operation were explained. Moreover, the Russian side has not received from this Commission any documented facts that would point to possible abuses by Russian companies or individuals.

We are also of the opinion that the publication of this kind of report by the Senate committee even before the completion of the independent investigation will adversely affect the activities of the Commission. Neither does the fact that a number of former Volcker Commission members have unilaterally leaked information that is at variance with the official reports of this independent body aid an objective outcome of the investigation.

In the matter of clarifying the truth regarding the former humanitarian operation in Iraq, the Russian side intends to continue cooperating with the Commission, whose conclusions ought to be based on authentic proof and facts that are real.

May 16, 2005