Russia's FM says aid to Iraq pointless because of lack of security

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/21/europe/EU_GEN_Russia_Iraq.php

MOSCOW Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said fighting that has raged in Iraq has made it pointless to provide economic assistance to the country.

"We are concerned about the situation in Iraq. It has been developing in an increasingly negative way," Lavrov said Friday in an interview with the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's Web site on Saturday.

He said Moscow "fully trusts" the Iraqi government and backs Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's national reconciliation efforts, but added that a volatile security situation means aid to the nation would be wasted.

"Of course, Iraq needs social-economic assistance, but providing such assistance in conditions of the total lack of security would be, first of all, risky from a purely technological viewpoint, and, secondly, could result in useless waste of money," Lavrov said. "In the past they have earmarked funds and built facilities only to see them destroyed."

[rodeodance]

1. hear that mr. Bush?--it is $$ down the hole-our money.