Russian,
French, German stand for Iraqi settlement
unchanged
Russian
President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Friday
that the United Nations should play a
"central role" in post-war Iraq
reconstruction, Russian news agencies
reported.
"The
essence of positions of Russia, Germany and
France on Iraq has not changed," he told
a joint press conference with the French and
German leaders after the tripartite summit in
the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
Meanwhile, he
noted that "reconstruction, transition to
peace life, and solution of humanitarian
problems" are prime tasks in Iraq.
Putin stressed
that the three-way summit is not aimed at
breaking up the international community but
searching for a resolution that would be
accepted by all involved parties, according to
Itar-Tass report.
"Our
meetings are open, and we are ready to work in
such way," Putin was quoted as saying.
The Russian
president also urged that the international
weapon inspection staff should return to Iraq.
Any discovery
of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
"can not be regarded as legitimate
without the presence of the inspectors, "Putin
noted.
Fall of
Saddam regime positive: Putin
Russian
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the
fall of Saddam regime is a positive result of
the US-led war in Iraq while criticizing
bringing him down by military means, Russian
news agencies reported.
"It's a
positive fact that a tyrannical regime has
been removed", Putin said, adding that
losses, destruction and human deaths "are
negative consequences".
One cannot
resolve the problem by means of war and
"only nations themselves should determine
their fate," Putin said.
Putin was
speaking at a forum of German and Russian
politicians and businessmen on the sidelines
of a summit with German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac.
He noted that
another negative consequence was that
international law has been undermined.
"We must
set about restoring this system of values and,
together with our partners, including the
United States and Britain, work on
international law," he stressed.
He also denied
that Russia had supported the Saddam regime.
Leaders of
Russia, France and Germany are expected to
hold three-way meeting on Friday evening in
Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg
to coordinate their positions on Iraq by
pressing for the central role of the United
Nations in the post-war reconstruction of that
country.
Turkey
tightens control over border with Iraq
Turkish forces
seemed to be tightening their control over the
Turkish-Iraqi border as Kurdish fighters
entered the Iraqi commercial hub of Mosul on
Friday, a day after they took over Kirkuk, a
key oil well in northern Iraq.
Armored
vehicles and tanks were patrolling the border
and military helicopters flying over Silopi, a
southeastern Turkish town bordering Iraq,
where reporters from major local and world
media were waiting for the border to open,
with no idea how long it would take them.
It was reported
that Turkey's top military and political
leaders met in Ankara Friday to map out
policies on the situation in northern Iraq,
where Iraq's Kurdish groups took over major
cities like Kirkuk and Mosul, believed with
acquiescence from the US military.
Turkey has
threatened to send troops to northern Iraq if
Kurds retain control of the two major cities
in northern Iraq. Kurdish leaders, on the
other hand, have said they will resist any
Turkish military moves.
The rising
tension and likely conflicts between the Turks
and Kurds have been closely watched by the
United States, which fears an armed clash
between them would undermine the coalition war
efforts in Iraq.
US Secretary of
State Colin Powell assured Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul on Thursday that US
troops would replace Kurdish fighters in
Kirkuk. He also invited Turkey to send
military observers to monitor the situation
there.
The Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan, a major Iraqi Kurdish
group, said Thursday that its forces will
leave Kirkuk by Friday.
Turkey has
reiterated that it will not accept Kurdish
control of Kirkuk or Mosul, fearing the major
commercial and industrial hubs in northern
Iraq might be used as bases for a separate
Kurdish state rejected by Turkey.
The Kurdish
people in southeastern Turkey have been
seeking "independence" in the past
decade.
US Senate
approves nearly 80-billion-dollar funding for
Iraq war
The US Senate
approved on Friday a compromise bill giving
President George W. Bush roughly 80 billion
dollars he wanted to cover the costs of the
on-going war with Iraq and his
administration's efforts in striking
terrorism.
The Senate
passed the bill even as its representatives
were still bargaining with those from the
House to smooth the difference between the two
bills approved nine days ago by the two
chambers.
It took a
little-used procedure and declared by voice
vote that when Senate leaders receive the
formal copy of the legislation, perhaps
Saturday, the bill would be considered passed.
Bush asked for
a package of 74.7 billion dollars to cover the
costs of war with Iraq and fighting against
terrorism. The Congress added more than 3
billion dollars to his proposal in a bid to
help the country's struggling airlines
industry.
The package
would offer the Pentagon about 62.5 billion
dollars to finance the war, about 5 billion
dollars in foreign aid to Israel, Jordan,
Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan to reward their
supporting the war on Iraq and in the global
war on terrorism.
The House bill
includes 4.2 billion dollars for tightening
security at home, nearly matching Bush's
request of 4.3 billion dollars. The Senate
bill provides an additional 400 million
dollars over Bush's request.
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