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Russia Says U.S. Anti-Terror Coalition Could End
(Andrei Shukshin, Reuters, March 18, 2003)
Russia on Tuesday fought to stop its new-found partnership with the United States going off the rails over Iraq but admitted their deep differences could destroy the anti-terror coalition binding them together. . . . there were sharp words from Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and parliament put off a vote to ratify a key bilateral nuclear arms treaty, further signaling Russian anger at Washington's rush toward military action. . . . "Unfortunately today, in connection with the looming threat of war against Iraq, the unity of the international anti-terrorist coalition is under threat," Ivanov told a Moscow conference. . . . "Naturally, having made this choice the United States also assumes responsibility for the consequences of their actions," he said, echoing Russia's anti-war ally French President Jacques Chirac. . . . It was Putin's swift backing for the U.S.-led international coalition against terror immediately following the September 11, 2001 airliner attacks on U.S. landmarks that led to the new strategic partnership between the former superpower rivals. . . . The Russian parliament, angry at what it regards as a humiliation of Russia by the United States over Iraq, put off a vote to ratify a landmark nuclear arms treaty that would slash U.S.-Russian nuclear arsenals. . . . Accusing Washington of ignoring Russia's views on Iraq, Duma official Sergei Shishkaryov said: "We are standing on the verge of the Third World War and the consequences of the beginning of military action in Iraq are to a large extent unpredictable.

posted by LoZo 1:54 PM