[home page][map of the server][news of the server][forums][publications][Yabloko's Views]

RIA Novosti, March 25, 2003

Will the Iraqi War Lead to Deterioration in Russia-US Relations?

Moscow, March 25, 2003. (RIA Novosti)--Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defence Committee Alexei Arbatov announced at a Moscow press conference that the war in Iraq would probably complicate Russian-American relations.

In his opinion, the harder things become for the Americans in Iraq, the more they will look for someone to blame, "including from other states." The politician said that the United States would demand the support of Russia and European countries, and then when this was denied, would make accusations against other states.

At the same time, he rejected claims that Russia and the USA would revert to Cold War relations. In his opinion, the main difference between the present and that era is that "official propaganda was then anti-American, whereas the nation as a whole had a good attitude towards the United States, just as now the situation is the complete opposite: official propaganda is trying to play down tension and not set people against the USA, but the population's mood is extremely anti-American." Asked to provide a forecast of developments, Arbatov suggested that the USA would sooner or later turn to other states and the UN for help to resolve the situation. The parliamentarian concluded that the friction and contradictions could then disappear.

 

See also:

Situation Around Iraq

RIA Novosti, March 25, 2003

[home page][map of the server][news of the server][forums][publications][Yabloko's Views]

english@yabloko.ru