May 18, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1424

MOSCOW, May 17: Russia said on Saturday it was not ready to back a US draft resolution to lift UN sanctions on Iraq, warning that it would not be rushed into a decision, Interfax news agency reported.

“The new version of the draft resolution does not eliminate all our concerns,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov.

“We have every reason to believe that this is not the final version and that consultations will continue.”

Fedotov had already said on Friday that the resolution submitted to the United Nations Security Council a week ago by the United States, Britain and Spain “requires serious changes”.

He also said Beijing shared Moscow’s view, after his meeting here with his Chinese counterpart Yang Wenchang.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell had said on Friday that the UN Security Council would come to a quick agreement on lifting sanctions against Iraq.

But Fedotov said Moscow would not be pressured into a quick decision despite Washington’s desire to get the resolution approved as quickly as possible.

“We believe that the essential things are not times and dates, but the search for an accord acceptable to all,” Fedotov said.—AFP