Russia warns against quick vote on U.S. resolution

UNITED NATIONS -- Russia on Thursday warned that putting the new U.S. resolution on Iraq to a quick vote would be "counterproductive" and France said it was "very important" to hear whether U.N. weapons inspectors believe they can operate under its provisions.

In a move to spur U.N. action, the United States introduced a seven-page draft resolution to the full 15-member Security Council on Wednesday after six weeks of difficult negotiations by the five veto-wielding permanent members.

The permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain -- remain divided over language in the U.S. draft which Moscow, Paris and Beijing believe could trigger military action against Iraq, and over tough new rules for inspections.

Whether the United States is prepared to make further changes to meet the concerns of Russia, China and France and avoid a possible veto remains to be seen. Russia appeared to be the main obstacle, rejecting the draft and not ruling out a veto. France, the most vocal opponent of earlier U.S. drafts, was ready to negotiate and wouldn't block the resolution's passage, French diplomats said.

With the White House declaring Wednesday that talks were in their "final moments," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov reiterated Thursday that the latest draft contains provisions which are "impossible to implement" and could "thwart" the work of inspectors.

Concerned about words

"Russia is also concerned about some provisions in the revised draft which, albeit camouflaged, could be used to justify the use of force against Iraq," the ITAR-Tass news agency quoted him as saying.

"A quick putting of the draft to a vote would be counterproductive," Fedotov warned.

Iraq was on the agenda Thursday when Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov held talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

"We have agreed not to speed up voting ... but to continue seeking to converge our positions," Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Ivanov as saying.

But Powell told reporters Wednesday night that despite criticism, the United States will stick to the "basic principles" of its proposal -- tough inspections, proof of Iraqi compliance, and ensuring that Iraq faces consequences if Saddam Hussein doesn't comply.