MOSCOW, Oct 23: Russia believes a new UN resolution on Iraq can be agreed, providing the United States withdraws “unrealistic demands” from its draft proposal, Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov said on Wednesday.

“We expect that current consultations will enable us to agree on a text acceptable to all, which will provide a real basis for a way out of the crisis,” Fedotov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after talks with the head of UN arms monitors, Hans Blix.

He added, however, that the latest draft resolution put forward by Washington “does not meet the criteria which, in Russia’s view, should be in the new resolution”.

“The new resolution should be aimed at supporting the inspectors’ work in Iraq and not name new unrealistic and unfulfillable demands,” the Russian diplomat concluded.

Fedotov and Blix held closed-door talks on Wednesday on a resumption of weapons inspections in Iraq, Russian media reported.

The officials discussed possible dates for a return of the inspectors to Iraq and the new draft resolution presented by Washington to its fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Interfax news agency said, citing diplomatic sources.

Fedotov is the deputy foreign minister charged with relations with the United Nations.

On Tuesday Russia described the new US draft resolution as “unacceptable” while France, another veto-wielding permanent member, said that “progress (on the draft) is still needed”.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that Russia would only accept a resolution that does not allow the automatic use of force against Iraq in case it fails to comply with US demands.

While the draft does not spell out the harsh consequences which US President George Bush has said would follow Iraq’s failure to comply, it uses language associated with the use of military force, warning of “serious consequences” as a result of Baghdad’s continued violations.

The draft also makes tougher demands on Iraq, including “immediate, unimpeded, unconditional and unrestricted access” to any site including eight presidential palaces and their extensive surroundings.

Blix is in Moscow on a private visit but has used the occasion to sound out Russian officials on the Iraqi situation.

After talks with Ivanov on Tuesday he warned that the Security Council’s five permanent members were still “some days” from reaching a unanimous agreement on a resolution that would allow arms monitors to return to Iraq after a four-year absence.—AFP