RUSSIA - Dec. 26 - Moscow Urges US Not To Breach International Law.

In an interview with The FT, Deputy FM Yuri Fedotov says the US will risk jeopardising the fight against terrorism and will be in violation of international law if it launches unilateral military action against Iraq. He stresses Moscow's belief in the need for a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict, and warns of the dangers of a military attack. He reiterates Moscow's opposition to US Pres. Bush's demand for "regime change", arguing that there is no basis in international law for such an attempt and that only the Iraqi people themselves should decide the fate of Saddam Hussein. Asked what Moscow would do if the US took military action, he says he prefers to concentrate on diplomatic efforts to avoid such a situation, but there could be serious consequences in terms of "a critical mass" of conflicts in Iraq and Israel, an escalation of terrorism and renewed tensions in Afghanistan. He offers an optimistic view of Baghdad's compliance with the weapons inspections process, saying it is proving "constructive" with "dozens of inspections every day, including in presidential palaces". He says: "Now there is a chance to resolve the situation in the political sphere". He adds that there is the prospect that the UN sanctions could be lifted by late-July in 2003. He says Moscow has no evidence Baghdad has developed weapons of mass destruction, and has seen no proof to the contrary in the public reports issued by the US and the UK. He says Moscow has requested additional information from London and Washington, but has received nothing further. He says Russian supplies to Iraq have largely been ahead of the introduction of sanctions in 1991 and dominated by the provision of rocket technology. He says Russian companies - unlike their counterparts in the West - have never been involved in contracts related to chemical, biological and atomic weapons. Asked whether Iraq's decision this month to dismiss LUKoil from its leading role in the development of the West Qurna oilfield has damaged relations with Moscow, he says: "It certainly did not improve them".