Today the Security Council has adopted a new resolution on Iraq, which is called upon to be an important landmark in the historical development of that country. The Russian Federation supported the adoption of this resolution, proceeding from its commitment to having the situation in Iraq speedily resolved under the aegis of the UN and normalizing conditions in the region as a whole.

In the course of the not easy process of elaboration and intensive diplomatic contacts a decision has been successfully worked out signifying the termination of the military occupation of Iraq and the transfer of full sovereignty from the coalition authority to the Interim Government. This is opening the prospect of intensifying the contribution of the United Nations to assistance in organizing a peaceful life and developing the political process on a democratic basis in Iraq.

The resolution unambiguously confirms the right of the Iraqi people to determine their political future for themselves and to control their national wealth. The Interim Government is to wield full sovereignty in questions of administration of the country, including direction of the national army and police. We welcome the inclusion in the resolution of provisions in support of the reintegration into Iraqi society of opposition elements, as also the necessity of observance by all the parties of international humanitarian and human rights norms. It is important that the resolution fixes a concrete schedule for the political process, and that it provides for the holding in Iraq in January 2005 of national elections, with a sovereign Transitional Government to be formed on the basis of their results.

Of key importance to Iraq's reconstruction is the factor of international and regional assistance to this process. Proceeding from the importance of giving legitimacy to the interim power structures of Iraq, Russia suggested that, before adopting the resolution, an international conference should be held with the participation of all the influential Iraqi political forces, neighboring states and the members of the UN Security Council. This our proposal still stands. We call upon the leadership of Iraq to view with the utmost seriousness the possibility of convening that meeting.

It is of fundamental importance that all the provisions of the resolution have been adopted on the basis of the appropriate requests from the Interim Government. This concerns above all the deployment in the country of a Multinational Force and international assistance to the political process with the United Nations playing the leading role.

Pursuant to the resolution, the UN will have to cope with serious tasks in Iraq. The principal role has been laid upon the world body in rendering assistance to the new Iraqi authorities with the preparation of the elections and the elaboration of a permanent constitution. Of course, the UN will be able to fulfill its tasks in that country only on condition that there is a due level of security for it.

One major element of the resolution is the understanding on the mandate for the Multinational Force, remaining in Iraq upon request from the Interim Government. The mandate of this force is expressly linked to the political tasks of a transitional period and the timeframe for its stay in the country may be reduced upon demand from the Iraqi leadership. It clearly makes the force's presence in the country contingent upon the consent of the Interim Government of Iraq, and its functions are subordinated to solving the tasks of ensuring security during the transitional period. It is important that a mechanism of coordination has been devised between the new Iraqi leadership and the Multinational Force command, that does not infringe on the sovereignty of the Interim Government. We believe that, as stated in the letters of US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Interim Prime Minister of Iraq Ayad Allawi, all the activities of the Multinational Force will be carried out with the concurrence of the sovereign Iraqi authorities.

The resolution-envisaged quarterly reports by the US on behalf of the Multinational Force, coupled with the reports of the UN Secretary General, guarantee constant control by the Security Council over the course of political settlement and reconstruction in Iraq.

The resolution confirms the necessity of definitively clarifying the questions tied to prohibited Iraqi military programs. Since the problem of WMDs was the grounds for the start of the war against Iraq, it cannot be left without attention. We expect work to begin soon in the Security Council on the adaptation of the mandate of UNMOVIC and IAEA to the new conditions. We hope that the Interim Government will actively cooperate with the international inspection mechanism.

The Security Council has also provided the Interim Government with sovereignty in the economic field within the transitional period. In this context we would like to underscore the necessity of ensuring a transparent and just approach to the use of the resources from the Development Fund for Iraq, as also of strictly abiding by all the parties by their prioritized contract obligations under the former humanitarian program of the United Nations. Russia, which in the present complicated situation too continues to render assistance to the reconstruction of the Iraqi economy, firmly intends to develop further its economic cooperation with that country.

We take note of the statements made by influential Iraqi leaders and from the countries of the region in support of the Interim Government. We feel that it should be given the opportunity to justify the hopes pinned on it in Iraq and in the world.

Yet it is obvious to us that the future alone will show if the resolution's adoption will help reverse the situation in Iraq. The Interim Government will have yet to prove its ability to administer the country on its own and to organize a truly representative political process. A great deal will here depend on whether the Iraqis themselves sense a real shift from military occupation to the restoration of sovereignty and whether the Interim Government can win the trust of the people and enlist the support of the international community, including the neighbors of Iraq.

Today's consensus resolution brings the Iraq question back to the UN political field. It is called upon to facilitate the consolidation of the efforts of the international community for actually resolving the situation in Iraq, which remains a bleeding wound of the Middle East Region and of world politics. Russia firmly believes that the key to solving this problem is the collective efforts of the states of the entire world.

The Iraqi situation has strikingly demonstrated the universal and irreplaceable character of the United Nations, embodying international legitimacy. The task of fostering joint work under the aegis of the UN, with the development of international relations, is becoming ever more relevant.