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PRESS CONFERENCE WITH IRAQI AMBASSADOR ABBAS HALAF KUNFUTH [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA DAILY OFFICE, 12:00, FEBRUARY 7, 2003]� DATE Friday, February 7, 2003� TEXT Moderator: Good afternoon, dear colleagues, Today the Komsomolskaya Pravda publishing house is welcoming as guest the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iraq in the Russian Federation Mr. Abbas Halaf Kunfuth. The topic of today's press conference is obvious and I will not even announce it. So please, Mr. Ambassador, what do you wish to say? Kunfuth: Good day, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am glad to meet with you once again - my beloved journalists and also colleagues. You know yourselves what I want to tell you and you also know the topic of the press conference. I must explain the position of my country in regard to the lies and disinformation that the US State Secretary Mr. Powell and the US administration used and thus kept the world on edge by saying that they would present some no ordinary surprise. Finally, Mr. Powell presented the report he promised and you -- journalists and I -- as a politician... that this only caused laughter, and I would say, misunderstanding and in general it demonstrated the degree to which the US administration wishes so much to wage a war against our sovereign state if only because they don't like President Saddam Hussein. And the detective story, presented by Mr. Powell, also demonstrated again that this is nonsense, utter absurdity and I can describe his statement as the theater of the absurd. In purely human terms, I feel sorry for him. Indeed, as a human being I feel sorry for him. It is because despite the fact that he made his tone sound aggressive and next to him sat the CIA director to enhance his prestige, but he is a diplomat, so I don't know why next to him sat the CIA chief. And you have seen on TV screens everything that he demonstrated -- this blubbering of a child, genuine disinformation. This reminds us of the style of nazi propaganda. This is the style of Goebbels who you know better than myself. This dissemblance and lie proves again the political and moral bankruptcy of the current US administration in its position against my country. Also, after his show ended in failure, one can describe it as the soap opera, or something soapy I don't know what ... Moderator: A soap opera. Kunfuth: Yes, a soap opera. This once again is something that causes disrespect to the current US administration which, first and foremost, has no respect for itself. When conflict arose between Russia and Georgia over the terrorists who were using the territory of Georgia against your country, Russia, how could Russia act against the tiny Georgia? Is Iraq a great power and America a small one? But time demonstrates that actually America is a small, pitifully small country. You know yourselves that he showed some computer pictures, and there was a truck. The truck stood outside a building. And then he presented a telephone conversation. Well, any telephone conversation can be reported and transmitted. And they state in a bare worded fashion that they show irrefutable facts that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. And they show us a kindergarten. I say that this shows moral bankruptcy and the amoral policy pursued by President Bush and his administration against our country. This is my answer to Mr. Powell who, I hope, should next time have more respect for himself and other countries because I feel sorry indeed: foreign ministers and UN chief delegates came and they thought that they will see some information. And there are international inspectors working in Iraq and there is Mr. Hans Blix who heads the commission and there is Mohamed ElBaradei who heads the IAEA. It would have been better to give the floor to those people who have the right to say their final word in regard to the programs concerning our country. Thank you for your attention. Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. If possible, you described the evidence presented as childish prattle, and this is understandable. Could we have point by point what Mr. Powell said? Kunfuth: I am prepared for everything and that is why I came to you. Moderator: It is said that the hard drives submitted to the UN inspectors were replaced and they might contain information about the weapons of mass destruction looked for in that country. What were those drives and why were they replaced? Kunfuth: If I heard those words or the report from Hans Blix, who has the mandate and the powers from the UN Security Council, I would understand. But this one ... did he forget that he is Secretary of State or maybe he is now fulfilling the role of an international inspector or he is playing the role of a detective? Even if I stated in inverted commas that the US has proof, the only people who could say that this is true -- are the experts. Why did he keep all the world on edge? He should have given them the opportunity because Mr. Powell will not go to inspect, these people will. That is why I say this now ... Moderator: But you don't know anything about the hard drive? Kunfuth: It's hard disc in English. Why didn't inspectors say this? Why did he say this? Either he spoke on behalf of international inspectors or he had forgotten who he was. Moderator: He concealed such important information. Kunfuth: Right. This is my commentary. Moderator: Modified means of transportation, laboratories, in which he said there could be biological weapons and anthrax. He said there were 7 to 18 of them. Kunfuth: I agree with his words. You are educated people. I am not saying that you are specialists in chemistry or biology. But how can possibly a laboratory work on a truck? Any movement -- first of all, I am not a specialist in nuclear or other weapons, but there are elementary things. For example, there is a shortage of electricity. And then what if this stuff affects the entire region? As for anthrax, you may remember this madman who had sent it to members of the Congress, and there was a scandal. Where is he from, Iraq or America? Moderator: He is from America. Kunfuth: You should know that Americans themselves make "miracles" and then accuse other nations of this. One of their madmen, who exist in great numbers in America, sent it to everybody. And then they simply closed this case. And then they accused not only Iraq. They also accused the Soviet Union and said that this anthrax some time back in 1970s -- it's a child's talk. But then when it turned out that it was one of their own, their own son of a bitch, excuse my language, they simply shut up. Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. What about stockpiles of chemical weapons near the town of al-Taji? Do they exist there? Kunfuth: The al-Taji area is located 20 kilometers north of Baghdad. This is a densely populated area. I just want you to understand what it's like. It's not a desert. It's a suburb of Baghdad. There is a facility there. First of all, it is constantly monitored by the UN. Inspectors have inspected it several times. So, these questions greatly surprise me. Why didn't inspectors say all this? Why did he say this? Is he their spokesman? No offense meant to the press. But he acted like a spokesman for the inspectors. They need a person like him, who holds a high office, because they are international inspectors. Moderator: Next. According to US intelligence data presented to the UN Security Council members by Powell, Iraq has several dozen Scud missiles. The US Secretary of State also said that Iraq had illegally bought 380 SA-2 missiles in order to modify its al-Samud-2 missiles that have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. Is this true? Kunfuth: Scud missiles were made in Russia. We used to have these missiles. International inspectors who worked in Iraq for eight years, from 1991 to December 1998, destroyed them. I worked in this field at that time with the Soviet Union. The inspectors took the serial numbers of these missiles from the Russian side here in Moscow, I was accompanying the delegation here at that time, from Rosoboronexport. They took all the numbers, and everything was destroyed with the consent of the international inspectors who worked in our country. How can Iraq buy this under the blockade when all of its accounts are frozen in Paris, and who will bring it there? It's logical. He is simply using the situation because many countries don't know much about the Iraqi issue and he is simply making things up. Moderator: Finally, connections with al-Qaeda. Powell claims that Abu Musa Tarkavi (sp?), one of Osama bin Laden's aides is in Iraq? Kunfuth: What about al-Qaeda? This is an Arabic word. In Arabian it means a base. But this base was created by the Americans themselves. They did this when they waged a war against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. Who is bin Laden? He was created by the CIA. They brought him up. Bin Laden's brother is in partnership with President Bush's brother. They maintain business contacts with bin Laden. Moderator: This is sensational news. Kunfuth: The problem is that many people don't know who bin Laden is, what kind of organization this is. And then who financed -- Moderator: No, I mean that bin Laden's brother has a business relationship with Bush's brother. Kunfuth: But of course he is. And I also want to say, who brought them up? The CIA. Where did they train? In Afghanistan. All this leads not to Mecca, not to Rome, but to Washington. They simply want to make white black and black white. And another thing. Iraq is the only Arab Islamic country that has not established diplomatic or political relations with the Taliban because there is a secular regime in Iraq. It's not a religious system. So, accusing Iraq -- when they lost poor bin Laden and began to look for a real enemy, they found him in the person of our president. They should mind their own business. I wouldn't rule out that bin Laden is their agent and he did all this. Unlike Powell, I do not have credible proof. But experience shows that this person is theirs and he served their interests. And then, their allies in the region, I will not name them, where this base or al-Qaeda and their trainees are -- take Kuwait. Who attacked American troops? Kuwaitis call them a dormant al-Qaeda nest in Kuwait. Moderator: In other words, it's a serpent that bites its own tail. Kunfuth: See, you know even better than I. Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Do you have any questions, colleagues? Q: Mr. Ambassador, do representatives of the Iraqi leadership plan to come to Moscow for consultations in the near future in connection with the deteriorating situation? Kunfuth: You know, we conduct consultations all the time. As an ambassador of my country, I maintain constant contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry, we exchange opinions and consultations. If you read the remarks by President Putin, he implied that they always exert pressure on Baghdad or Iraq in order, as they say, to work with Iraq on the current situation around our country. Up till today I have no concrete information, unlike Mr. Powell, and I can thus make you glad. We are engaged in consultations and exchanging opinions via diplomatic channels. Moderator: Your questions. Mr. Ambassador, there is increasing use made of the analogy with Russia: Tareq Aziz said that it will be a battle of Stalingrad. Today you compared Powell to Goebbels and you invoked the war that the Soviet Union experienced. Tell us please: Did the attitude of Russia to Iraq change? Kunfuth: I don't think so. It is because the Americans and some Western countries, and I say "some" with regret, are trying to pass their wishes off as reality. If you remember the statement by Mr. Putin with the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, he said a lot of good things and in general supported Iraq practically on all points. Mr. Putin said: The inspectors must say whether they are satisfied with their cooperation with Iraq. We for our part, are exerting constant pressure on Iraq. Vladimir Putin said that Baghdad has agreed with many UN demands, even with the fact that the inspectors can enter private homes although it looks like violation of human rights. That is why we believe that Russia's position -- Russia supports the course of a political settlement around our country -- is satisfactory to us. Q: May I ask a question about bacteriological and chemical weapons? It is the journal Geopolitika. As is known, an epidemic of TB is raging in New York and scores of people have died already. A similar incurable TB epidemic is raging in Great Britain which is a US ally. The US government is killing its own voters by the TB epidemic. So, the question is why the microorganisms are being looked for in Iraq rather than where the US is destroying its own voters by the TB epidemic? Kunfuth: You know, I agree with your assessment because they need the image of external enemy. These are the vestiges of the Cold War which Washington has rejected. Look at history: who was the first to use weapons of mass destruction against mankind? It was Washington against Japan, Washington -- against Vietnam, Washington everywhere as a criminal regime. And it accuses others. Q: Excuse me, another question concerning chemical weapons. It is a fact stated in all encyclopedias that the coal mines in the US are burning for over 100 years. Communists in China, where mines were also burning, found money and extinguished fires. Mines never burnt in the Soviet Union. When America mines are burning they emit poisonous chemical agents which poison US voters and the entire world. It is known that the US is the largest polluter of the Earth with chemical substances. Moderator: Your question please. Q: Why does the US government kill its voters with chemical weapons every day but looks for the chemical agents in Iraq? Kunfuth: I am telling you that it is their method, a method of the Cold War, a method of a criminal regime that exists in the United States. They are expected defend peace and stability around the world rather than expand the war against a peaceful state like Iraq. Q: Mr. Ambassador, I would like to return to the statement by Powell which regrettably may not have been so convincing as the Bush administration would have liked it to be. That is why Bush last night spoke about a new UN resolution. Among other things, he repeated the thought about Iraqi regime's links with Chechen terrorists ... Kunfuth: Also with the Chechens? Q: With Chechen terrorists and with Al Qaeda. You have just returned from Iraq so could you comment this situation, namely that Iraq may have taken a hand in some terrorist acts in Russia, including Chechnya? Kunfuth: You know, it is generally childish prattle. Regrettably, President Bush has difficulty reasoning correctly. Maybe he thinks that Chechnya is inside the Arab world? Honestly, there is the official position of my country, of my leadership in respect to the Chechnya question. Iraq can see that the actions of rebels, the Chechens -- this is official, I am not speaking on my own, it is the official position -- that those actions do great harm and damage to Russia, and a weak Russia is not in the interests of the Arab world or the Islamic world. Iraq and President Saddam Hussein -- is the only President who received Akhmad Kadyrov who is the representative and the head of administration in Chechnya. That is why again I feel sorry for Powell in connection with his statements and I also feel sorry for the President in connection with such a statement which shows that the President is not informed or regrettably he is informed in a completely different way. Q: You said that, I failed to understand it, President Bush or a brother of President Bush has entrepreneurial links with a brother of bin Laden? It is my first question. And what is the nature of relations, is it oil? Kunfuth: These are commercial relations. You know they try to use our Arab world in order to make business. You know, they don't mind, they hold nothing sacred. They have only one sacred name -- it is their dollar although they are cooperating with bin Laden. Maybe we soon learn that bin Laden has also commercial relations with Bush and it will be a surprise. So, there is a commercial construction company. Q: You mean with President Bush himself or what? Kunfuth: No, with his brother. Q: With his brother? Kunfuth: Yes. Q: What official steps can Iraq take now after Powell's statement and after the statement of the US President, what statements and papers or something are possible? Kunfuth: You know our specialists on weapons, and yesterday the adviser to our President also organized a big conference at which they gave complete commentary concerning the pathetic report by Mr. Powell. I also wish to say that Iraq has also invited Hans Blix and ElBaradei to visit our country. They are scheduled to fly to our country on the 8th. From yesterday certain Iraqi specialists agreed to give interviews to international inspectors without the presence of an official representative of our country. That is why Iraq is taking practical measures to deprive the present US administration of any pretexts, reasons or "arguments" for unleashing a new war against our country. We are doing all this. Q: On Sunday, February 9, President Putin will visit Germany and France that, like Russia, favor a peaceful settlement in Iraq. What does Iraq expect from this visit? Kunfuth: We expect positive results. We know President Putin, he is a friend of our country. He is carrying out a reasonable policy despite all attempts by Washington and London to pressure Russia and other countries into changing their positions on Iraq. But we expect good results. Q: But can you be more specific? Kunfuth: Of course. We want these three key states to insist that the Iraqi issue may be resolved only by diplomatic, political methods. Q: Last night Bush said the game was over. If combat actions begin, will you personally stay in Moscow or fly to Baghdad? Kunfuth: To use the Soviet terminology, if the mother country calls upon me, I will be glad to go back. If my country orders me to stay here and be useful here, I will. And I will fight here on the political front line. Q: It was said earlier that if military actions begin, Iraq can destroy its oil wells. Is this true? And one more question. Mr. Tareq Aziz said in his recent interview with Izvestia, if I remember this correctly, that Iraq was going to send an official letter to the UN Secretary General. Do you know anything about the contents of this letter? Kunfuth: When Mr. Gennady from Izvestia interviewed him, I was in Baghdad together with Mr. Tareq Aziz. As far as the letter is concerned, I cannot say anything. As for Iraq's blowing up its oil wells, we will not do this because this is our wealth. We have our own approach. This is our country and we will not leave it. This is why we value our infrastructure. Q: Everybody says that the US aggression is imminent, but we know that US planes also bomb peaceful towns. What are the recent casualties? Do you plan to take any legal action, like filing lawsuits with the Hague Tribunal? Kunfuth: You know, the US administration is conducting not only a military campaign against Iraq's southern and northern regions, but it is also pursuing the policy of genocide against our country. This policy manifests itself in further economic sanctions against Iraq that have become senseless because these sanctions were imposed on Iraq after it had invaded Kuwait, but Iraq withdrew from that country in 1991, and this country is not longer living under Iraqi occupation. Therefore, there are no reasons for continuing the sanctions. But there are casualties among peaceful population, among children and women. I want to say that after American troops used shells with enriched uranium in 1991, there are still some areas in southern Iraq that remain contaminated and people there suffering from cancer. So, I do not rule out that Iraq may file lawsuits against these crimes against humanity with specialized international organizations. Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Everybody understands, of course, what Powell and Bush say is gibberish but it is also obvious to all reasonable people that a war is imminent. Kunfuth: You know that it is imminent. But we are in full guard, as the Russian say. We are not sleeping. They tried to do this in 1991, and let them try again... If this is our fate, what can we do? We have nowhere to retreat for behind us is Baghdad. Moderator: My question was different. In London there will be a peace march on February 15. Many people will go to Iraq and they say that Iraq is now giving visas to absolutely all those willing join that train of peace. The British, the Americans, the French and the Italians -- they will go to Baghdad. Iraq is issuing visas quite freely because people go risking their lives. It is because few can get so mad to begin bombing towns and villages. How will you receive this peace train and how many visas have been issued around the world? Do you have the data? Kunfuth: I have seen those people with my own eyes. I came back from Baghdad at night on Wednesday and I saw a British bus, and I saw Americans and I saw the French and also saw people from different countries, including from the Arab world. They are people that have chosen their path. We will not stop them, we are grateful to them for this solidarity.They wish to die together with us. These are the ideals of peace while for some these have been fairy-tales. But now the world is again being reborn and telling Washington in a loud voice -- "No to the aggressive war against our country." Everywhere, and in Moscow -- I would not hide it from you -- they gave me the figure of 2,500 people. I have so far "put them on hold". I have no instructions. The Iraqi Embassy gave me applications from 2,500 people who are prepared to go to Iraq in order to be together with Iraqi friends. And this continues. Every day we get about 100 applications, 100 requests who ask to be allowed to go to Baghdad. Those are military, scholars, civil engineers, workers, intellectuals and the young. A young Russian of 23 years writes to us that he is prepared to go to Iraq in order to be with us. He is 23. And he wishes to be with the Iraqi people. We are not engaged in any propaganda and the people are ... Moderator: Voluntarily, of course. Kunfuth: We get calls around the clock to the Embassy here and to my residence. Every day. So, I wish to say that this is not only something happening in European countries, but also here in Russia. I tell you officially that I have a list of 2,500 people. Moderator: And they are supposed to be in Baghdad on February 15, is that so? Kunfuth: Yes, so far I did not yet get approval from Baghdad, but as soon as I get the approval I will issue them visas. Moderator: Your questions? Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador. Hold firm. We wish you peace and prosperity. Kunfuth: Thank you. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to theYahoo! Terms of Service. -- Glenda http://world.std.com/~snet/thegrid.htm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heart_Daughter/ What happens next loves me.... Monday, February 10, 2003 4:24:49 PM TheBat V.1.51
