--> Was haben Saddam und Primakov ausgeheckt? Voloshin (Putins Stabschef) war nach Primakovs Rückkehr aus Bagdad drei Tage lang in Washington, bis einschließlich gestern. Gestern hat Powell gegenüber Al Jazira von drei Optionen gesprochen. 1. Saddam Exil, 2.Verlängerung der Sanktionen, 3.Krieg.
Das ist eine völlig neue Sprache. Und heute Nacht hat Bush gesprochen, sanft wie ein Lamm.

Hat Voloshin Neuigkeiten mitgebracht? Tritt Lukoil Teile seiner Konzessionen am West Qurna Ã-l-Feld an US-Konzerne ab? Einigen sich F, RU und USA-GB bald und kommt es zu einer Fortführung von Sykes-Picot? Was erhält Deutschland in diesem großen Spiel? Mehr als nur den Friedens-Nobelpreis für Schröder im Oktober?

frägt runzelnd
der Scheich



Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003. Page 1

Putin, Schroeder Push for Peace

By Catherine Belton
Staff Writer President Vladimir Putin stood firm Wednesday on Russia's push to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq, rejecting a new UN Security Council resolution forwarded by the United States and Britain that would open the way for war against Saddam Hussein.

"The position of Russia is known. We consider a resolution that would grant the right to automatically start a war to be unacceptable," Putin told reporters after a Kremlin meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

"Russia is ready to search for acceptable means to resolve the conflict, but we are not ready to fight," Putin said.

Schroeder said he still believed the standoff could be resolved peacefully.

Putin's comments were his first public remarks on Iraq since Russia backed a French-German memorandum forwarded to the Security Council on Monday that calls for inspectors to be given at least four more months.

But there also were signs that Putin does not want to jeopardize the strong ties forged with the United States after Sept. 11. He had some positive words to say about U.S. President George W. Bush, with whom he said he planned to speak by telephone Thursday.

"I have not heard even from the American president that he wants to conduct a war," Putin said."The American president also wants to achieve the disarmament of Iraq by peaceful means. The American side is making the Iraqi side more pliant in regard to cooperation with the UN inspectors. It is just important not to cross the line where there is no peaceful solution."

As further evidence that Putin wants to maintain good relations with the United States, his chief of staff Alexander Voloshin concluded a three-day tour of Washington on Wednesday with a one-hour meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The talks were"very, very good," according to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, who was present."We will see if there is an opportunity to narrow the gap," he said at a briefing afterward, The Associated Press reported.

Analysts say Voloshin was sent to Washington to clinch concrete deals in return for Russia's support for the new UN resolution.

In another sign the horsetrading might eventually go the United States' way, Mikhail Margelov, the head of the Federation Council's foreign affairs committee who is believed to be close to Putin, said he thought it was unlikely Russia would veto the U.S. resolution. Margelov also was in Washington.

In Moscow, meanwhile, a senior State Department official told reporters on condition of anonymity that he did not think there will be a Russian veto.

Analysts said Russia was pushing strongly for a political solution because it fears a U.S.-led war against Iraq would lead to widespread global instability and plummeting oil prices, which could put the brakes on Russia's oil-fueled economic growth.

Putin, however, realizes he will have to bow to the inevitable over U.S. plans for a military strike, said Vyacheslav Nikonov, who heads the political think tank Fond Politika.

"What Putin really wants is for this war not to begin," he said."But this is not possible. What Russia is looking for now are deals in return for its support."

So, observers say, Putin is playing a clever political game, siding with the French and Germans to play for time and shore up Russia's coffers ahead of war, while maximizing the opportunity for deals with the United States in return for Russia's support.

Foreign investors, who have started to pile back into Russia after seeing its improved relations with the United States as a sign it was a safe place to do business, say they do not fear a retreat of Putin's pro-U.S. line.

"Russia joining with France and Germany is pure posturing to get the best deal it can out of the U.S.," said William Browder, director of Hermitage Capital Management."Russia breaking with the U.S. over Iraq would be the most irrational thing Putin could do."

The State Department refused to comment further Wednesday on what Voloshin's talks entailed. During his visit, Voloshin also met with Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported Wednesday that Voloshin was also to meet with CIA director George Tenet, but a spokesman for Tenet refused to say Wednesday whether the two had met.

Nikonov said the possible meeting with Tenet could mean the U.S. was providing Russia with further evidence Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

"One of the problems for the U.S. is that there is no smoking gun," Nikonov said."If there was a smoking gun, it would be much easier to get this resolution through."

The American web site Stratfor.com reported on Wednesday, however, that Voloshin had been sent to Washington with a message from Hussein.



<ul> ~ Quelle Text: Moscow Times</ul>