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The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
The State Duma of the Russian Federation
The Yabloko faction

Declaration
on the UK and US aviation attacks against Iraq

February 22, 2001

The Yabloko faction denounces the attacks by the aviation of the USA and the UK against objects located the near Iraqi capital which led to civilian deaths and casualties. These were unilateral actions by the USA and Great Britain, in circumvention ofthe resolution of the UN Security Council and in violation of the UN Charter.

The Yabloko faction thinks that this aviation attack can only lead to a further deterioriation in the situation in the Middle East and will never yield positive results. These actions will merely increase the influence and popularity of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, as well as in many other countries.

The situation must be regulated by political methods and should be based on strict implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the sanctions against Iraq, proposed by some irresponsible politicians, could undermine the authority of the Organisation of the United Nations, which has already been shaken by the USA, and the UN should remain the main body for maintaining security in the world.

The Russian Federation can only ensure elimination of the sanctions against Iraq by diplomatic actions within the framework of the UN Security Council. Here, the weakening of the sanctions should be agreed with the implementation of UN decisions on the cessation of Iraq's programmes in the development of weapons of mass destruction and missiles, and the attempts by Baghdad to place obstacles in this process should be accompanied by a consolidation of the sanction regime, up to an including the use of force within the jurisdiction of the UN Security Council.

Deputy Head of the Yabloko faction

Sergei Ivanenko

February 22, 2001