Evaluations first. What is happening is lawlessness, an extremely dangerous event. The United States and Great Britain resolved to attack Iraq despite the UN Security Council. They scorn the international law and disregard their own allies, not to mention the international community. This is essentially a felonious war. If the things were ahead in this manner, it will be possible to qualify all of that as an attempt to enforce a new world order. this attempt may have some serious consequences.
The United States patterns its behavior on strength alone. It will not do because times have changed. This is an erroneous policy. America is probably the only country not to have realized that this is a new era and a new world we live in now.
The world has hardly begun after the Cold War to build a new system of relations and adapt itself to the new realities... Even these fragile mechanisms are jeopardized now. Actually, the threat is in ruination of international relations and institutions that are supposed to maintain security.
We are already hearing speculations that the UN Security Council and the UN itself have exhausted their capabilities and lost their clout. If you ask me, the funeral is way too premature. Actions of the United States should be properly assessed, and the assessment should be made, first and foremost, by the UN Security Council.
The split in Europe and in NATO is also in the focus of attention. These assumptions are premature too. On the other hand, the crisis of relations nobody can deny should compel the United States and its statements to draw correct conclusions.
The Americans do have something to give serious thought to, and not only in the matter of their foreign political doctrine. It may be added that the Iraqi conflict may make serious trouble for the US Administration. History teaches us that any war is a herald of changes in the country that initiated it in the first place. I have already said it and will repeat it again and again: American needs a perestroika of its own.
There will be no changes before America itself starts thinking about its model of economic and social development, before it starts looking at the world around it realistically. It is hard for me to get rid of the impression that the motives behind the war in Iraq should be looked for in the critical situation in the United States itself. Its economy is sick.
A few words about what ought to be done. Panic should be avoided at all cost. UN Security Council members and all of the international community should act because what is happening in Iraq is splitting the world and that must be avoided.
A comprehensive analysis of the situation is needed, and the UN Security Council should give an evaluation of behavior of every country that deserves it. Priorities should be outlined and emergency measures charted in order to minimize casualties and ruination in Iraq.
As for Russia, I think that our country and its president have pursued a correct policy throughout the conflict. We do not want weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but neither do we want an armed conflict. Russia's position is firm. At the same time, Russia has remained in touch with the United States and its allies and facilitated the dialogue. It is important because our choice in the matter is related to our own domestic problems. (Translated by A. Ignatkin)