Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held a phone conversation on
Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on the best way of
resolving the question of arms inspections in Iraq, and they had an
in-depth exchange of views on the Iraq issue.
Ivanov stated the Russian stance on the situation, expressing the
view that the issue should be solved by political means on the
basis of the relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions,and in line with the norms of international law.
The Russian side hopes to maintain close contact with China on the
issue, he added.
Tang Jiaxuan elaborated the position of the Chinese government on
the Iraq issue, which he reaffirmed, should be resolved within the
framework of the United Nations. The top priority at present in
solving the issue was to enable UN weapon inspectors to return to
work in Iraq at an early date, he added.
The U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission
(UNMOVIC) and Iraq would negotiate on the detailed arrangements
forweapon inspections, he said.
He
urged Iraq to cooperate with the U.N. in an all-round way toreach
an agreement as soon as possible.
He
also noted that all the actions taken by the U.N. Security Council
should be conducive to a political settlement.
As
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China and Russia
shouldered a heavy responsibility to safeguard world peace and
security, and China was willing to continue to strengthen
consultation and cooperation with Russia to prompt the Iraq issue
to develop in the direction of a political settlement, he said.
Also on September 30, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Guangya
met in Beijing with William Ehrman, the special envoy of the
British foreign secretary.
Ehrman briefed Wang on Britain's views of the issue, saying that
Britain hoped to closely consult and coordinate with China.
Wang reiterated China's stance on the Iraq issue, stressing that
Iraq should comprehensively and strictly implement the relevant
U.N. resolutions.
The Chinese side would continue to make joint efforts with other
members of the Security Council to push for a political resolution
within the U.N. framework.
Earlier, U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman in Washington
D.C. briefed Zhou Wenzhong, a visiting Chinese assistant foreign
minister, about the next step his country would take on the Iraq
issue.
( October 1, 2002)