Kyiv Post - 10.16.2002

Kyiv Post

Iran's President Says Iraq Could Pose Threat, Calls for Peaceful Solution to Conflict with U.S.

 

KYIV (AP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday that Iraq poses a threat to other nations if it possesses weapons of mass destruction, but called for a peaceful solution to the conflict between Baghdad and Washington. "If weapons of mass destruction are in Iraq, it's a threat to everybody, but using force without approval ... destroys peace and stability not only there but in other countries," Khatami said after meeting with President Leonid Kuchma at the start of a two-day state visit to the former Soviet republic.

Iran's president expressed hope for a peaceful solution to mounting tensions between Baghdad and Washington, while supporting his former foe's sovereignty. "We are against unilateral action by the United States," Khatami said.

The presidents signed bilateral trade and health care agreements and an anti-drug trafficking memorandum and discussed further development of projects in the aviation and energy sectors - including future transpiration of Iranian gas to Europe and Ukraine's assistance in developing Iran's nuclear power capacity.

The United States has strongly objected to Russian participation in completing a nuclear plant in Iran, which both Russia and Iran insist will be used for civilian purposes only. The United States says the project could help Iran which U.S. President George W. Bush has labeled part of an "axis of evil," develop nuclear weapons.

Khatami's visit came the same day that the head of a parliamentary commission investigating corruption claimed to have evidence of Kuchma's involvement in a sale of non-nuclear Grad mobile missile systems to Iran via Egypt.

Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko said Ukrainian officials "absolutely would not" discuss any military issues with the Iranian delegation.

The United States suspended US$54 million in aid to Ukraine last month based on recordings by a former presidential bodyguard where Kuchma is heard approving the sale of Kolchuha radar systems to Iraq. U.S. and British investigators are now in Ukraine investigating whether any sale was actually made.