Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (novinite.com)
H.E. Vladimir Titov has been Russia's ambassador to Bulgaria since January 2000. He was born in 1958 and graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He worked in Sweden's Embassy 1984-1989 and 1992-1997. From 1991 to 1992 he was deputy chief of directorate International Organizations with the Foreign Ministry. As of 1997 he was Director of the Second European Department with the Foreign Ministry. Speaks English and Swedish. Married with a son.
H.E. Titov answered questions of Milena Hristova, Editor of The News and novinite.com
Q: Russian President Vladimir Putin called the military action against Iraq is a big political mistake. Some analysers say however that Russia will try not to undermine completely its relations with the United States. How would you comment this? Do you expect any changes in Russia's position?
A: This is really a grave mistake, because the military actions are being carried out in defiance of public opinion around the world, in violation of the principles and regulations of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. This is the opinion of the International Association of Lawyers in Geneva and other competent organizations. Their conclusion is that UN Security Council resolution 1441 does not provide the legal basis for military action against Iraq. The position of Russia remains unchanged - we are for a quick end to the military actions and a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis within the Security Council of the United Nations.
Regardless of the differences in the positions of Russia and the United States on the Iraqi crisis, the Russian-American dialogue undoubtedly retains its importance. We, as well as the Americans, are aware that strengthening international stability and dealing with challenges and threats to the civilization are impossible without our cooperation.
Q: Could you tell how long will this war last?
A: Judging by the information we receive, there is no bloodless blitzkrieg. Innocent civilians die, including quite a few women and children. The Iraqi crisis expanded beyond the limits of a local conflict, the world is heading for a humanitarian and ecological catastrophe. The earlier an end is put to this war and the conflict is returned back to the filed of law, the better for everybody.
Q: Were there any diplomatic means for resolution of the Iraqi crises after the ultimatum of US President Bush?
A: Certainly. The meeting of the UN Security Council on March 19 that Russia initiated at the level of foreign ministers was very important in this respect. The reports that chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei presented at the meeting, contained a list of concrete issues that need to be clarified, convincingly proved the efficiency of the inspections mechanism. This once again demonstrated that statements for unavoidable military actions against Iraq as the only way to its disarmament are exaggerated.
Q: What do ordinary Russians think about the war?
A: The majority of Russians are against the war in Iraq. What underlines the opinions of our citizens is the conviction that the war could be averted.
Q: Is Bulgaria's position on Iraq justified?
A: I am not the right person to answer that question. It is a duty of the Bulgarian government to choose the policy that complies best with the interests of your country.
Q: How do you think will Bulgaria's support for the United States reflect upon its relations with Russia?
A: It is true that Bulgaria and Russia chose different approaches in seeking a resolution of the final stage of the problem with disarming Iraq. Still I would like to underline that with regard to international issues, our positions have more similarities than differences. Recently our relations changed substantially. We decided to develop cooperation on a pragmatic basis, shedding ideological layers and stereotypes from the past. I believe that this will help in overcoming differences in opinion that sometimes arise.
Q: Is UN central role in keeping the world peace and security threatened?
A: Now the United Nations are put to the test. It is optimistic that the greater part of the international community is against a military resolution of the problem for disarming Iraq, fully aware that the problem may and must be resolved politically, on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions. That is the reason why we seek that the issue is returned quicker to the sphere of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
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