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CNN Live Today

Interview With Igor Ivanov

Aired March 26, 2003 - 11:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: From the very beginning, the outset of this, the Russians were sharply against this war. Want to get you to Moscow for an exclusive interview. Our Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty standing by now with the Russian foreign minister for their reaction today. Now, day six, going well into day seven, right now, with the war in Iraq.
Jill, hello and good evening.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Bill.

Well, we have Igor Ivanov with us taking out some time in his busy day to come by CNN and tell us what he thinks.

Mr. Ivanov, the relationship between Russia and the United States really seems extremely strained. You would have to admit.

I mean, how serious is this break between the U.S. And Russia over Iraq?

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, (through translator): First of all, I would like to say Russia is interested in the maintenance of partnerships -- relationships with the United States. It is our strategic choice. And I do believe that Washington made the same choice. Though, as President Putin and President Bush said that repeatedly and, therefore, indeed that within the framework of partnership relations there could be some differences, including the serious differences like now. The differences around Iraq. But at the same time we expect and we hope that facing the relations, we'll be able to overcome this not easy period successfully jointly and work toward the future of peace and stability.

DOUGHERTY: Right now there is a big argument going on between the United States and Russia over allegations by the United States that Russian companies sold sensitive military equipment to Iraq. And the U.S. says it includes goggles, anti-tank missiles, GPS jammers, et cetera. The U.S. says it's given Russia information, concrete intelligence information, and that they even think there may be engineers on the ground in Iraq.

Has Russian -- can you confirm Russia has been given that information?

Have you had a chance to look at it, are you convinced?

And will Russia be looking into this further as President Putin said? IVANOV (through translator): Well, for the past few months, starting from October last year, the U.S. side has repeatedly raised this issue with us, including during my talks with secretary of state, Mr. Powell. This issue was reported to the president of Russia and, upon his instruction, our competent authorities very seriously started those documents and documents that were provided by the U.S. side. They did not receive a confirmation. Recently, the day before yesterday, actually, we had received some additional information from the U.S. side.

Right now this information is being studied carefully. I would like to assure you that no equipment, including that of a military purpose was shipped to Iraq by Russia in violation of the sanction regime. If we -- if it turns out that somebody was violating this regime, then the measures would be applied against those persons or organizations in accordance with our legislation. But I repeat that as of now, we do not have any confirming facts.

DOUGHERTY: Russia continues to say that it believes there is a possibility for some type of political solution to this issue. But we are involved in a war right now.

Is it realistically to even think there is a possibility for any political solution?

And what are your next steps going to be at the United Nations?

IVANOV (through translator): When President Putin said that the war against Iraq was a big mistake, he was thinking not only about Russia, but the United States as well, because today one can see that this war brings some victims, both from the Iraqi population, the U.S. and the U.K. military will die as well. And we are quite sure we could avoid this war because there was a way for a peaceful settlement.

We believe the sooner we stop this war, the sooner we see it at the negotiation table in the U.N. Security Council, the faster we'll be able to solve problems of concern both for Washington, Moscow and the international community. We, as well as Washington, are interested that there is no mass destruction of weapons in Iraq. We're interested in this region being stable. We are quite sure we can achieve that through acting jointly.

DOUGHERTY: Thank you very much, Igor Ivanov. Thank you for giving us the time to CNN. We appreciate it very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired March 26, 2003 - 11:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: From the very beginning, the outset of this, the Russians were sharply against this war. Want to get you to Moscow for an exclusive interview. Our Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty standing by now with the Russian foreign minister for their reaction today. Now, day six, going well into day seven, right now, with the war in Iraq.
Jill, hello and good evening.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Bill.

Well, we have Igor Ivanov with us taking out some time in his busy day to come by CNN and tell us what he thinks.

Mr. Ivanov, the relationship between Russia and the United States really seems extremely strained. You would have to admit.

I mean, how serious is this break between the U.S. And Russia over Iraq?

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, (through translator): First of all, I would like to say Russia is interested in the maintenance of partnerships -- relationships with the United States. It is our strategic choice. And I do believe that Washington made the same choice. Though, as President Putin and President Bush said that repeatedly and, therefore, indeed that within the framework of partnership relations there could be some differences, including the serious differences like now. The differences around Iraq. But at the same time we expect and we hope that facing the relations, we'll be able to overcome this not easy period successfully jointly and work toward the future of peace and stability.

DOUGHERTY: Right now there is a big argument going on between the United States and Russia over allegations by the United States that Russian companies sold sensitive military equipment to Iraq. And the U.S. says it includes goggles, anti-tank missiles, GPS jammers, et cetera. The U.S. says it's given Russia information, concrete intelligence information, and that they even think there may be engineers on the ground in Iraq.

Has Russian -- can you confirm Russia has been given that information?

Have you had a chance to look at it, are you convinced?

And will Russia be looking into this further as President Putin said? IVANOV (through translator): Well, for the past few months, starting from October last year, the U.S. side has repeatedly raised this issue with us, including during my talks with secretary of state, Mr. Powell. This issue was reported to the president of Russia and, upon his instruction, our competent authorities very seriously started those documents and documents that were provided by the U.S. side. They did not receive a confirmation. Recently, the day before yesterday, actually, we had received some additional information from the U.S. side.

Right now this information is being studied carefully. I would like to assure you that no equipment, including that of a military purpose was shipped to Iraq by Russia in violation of the sanction regime. If we -- if it turns out that somebody was violating this regime, then the measures would be applied against those persons or organizations in accordance with our legislation. But I repeat that as of now, we do not have any confirming facts.

DOUGHERTY: Russia continues to say that it believes there is a possibility for some type of political solution to this issue. But we are involved in a war right now.

Is it realistically to even think there is a possibility for any political solution?

And what are your next steps going to be at the United Nations?

IVANOV (through translator): When President Putin said that the war against Iraq was a big mistake, he was thinking not only about Russia, but the United States as well, because today one can see that this war brings some victims, both from the Iraqi population, the U.S. and the U.K. military will die as well. And we are quite sure we could avoid this war because there was a way for a peaceful settlement.

We believe the sooner we stop this war, the sooner we see it at the negotiation table in the U.N. Security Council, the faster we'll be able to solve problems of concern both for Washington, Moscow and the international community. We, as well as Washington, are interested that there is no mass destruction of weapons in Iraq. We're interested in this region being stable. We are quite sure we can achieve that through acting jointly.

DOUGHERTY: Thank you very much, Igor Ivanov. Thank you for giving us the time to CNN. We appreciate it very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com