Rumsfeld Stakeout with Russian MoD Borisovich

Rumsfeld Stakeout with Russian MoD Borisovich

NEWS TRANSCRIPT from the United States Department of Defense

DoD News Briefing Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Thursday, September 19, 2002

(Stakeout with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Borisovich Ivanov.)

Q: [inaudible]

Rumsfeld: [inaudible] but I don't know. The President and the leadership of Congress met and as I recall they're working on a resolution jointly. So one would think if they do that why --

Q: [inaudible]

Secretary Rumsfeld: [inaudible]

Q: Mr. Minister. Can we have just a word on Iraq? Why does Russia oppose the new U.N. Resolution on Iraq?

Ivanov: Well, I am not the foreign minister, but I can tell you I think from the very start we said that there should be unconditional receivement of international inspectors in Iraq. And being experienced in that sort of business, both Americans and Russians, I think we can easily establish whether there exists or not weapons of mass destruction technology, some sort of program, preparation of, "cooking" something which shouldn't be done.

Q: You think inspectors can do this?

Ivanov: I believe, yes.

Q: Do you believe the Iraqis --

Ivanov: As about the Resolution, it's none of my business to decide whether we need a Resolution -- We need one or we don't need one. But I think we should send the inspectors there.

Q: Sir, do you trust that the Iraqis will allow unconditional inspections anywhere the inspectors want to go? Do you believe the Iraqis?

Ivanov: Well, I think the inspectors should give that answer. It's not a question of trust or mistrust; it's a question of facts.

Thank you.

Rumsfeld: Thank you.

ENDS

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