Schröder, Putin Place Faith in Peaceful Solution

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder pushed ahead on Wednesday in his effort to block a U.S.-led war against Iraq by traveling to Moscow to meet another opponent of the American drive, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After talks with Schöder at the Kremlin late Wednesday, Putin emphasized the need for a peaceful solution. "We must work further on a peaceful solution and make use of all diplomatic means," he said.

Putin said he thought that all the possibilities that U.N. resolution 1441 held on the disarming of Iraq were "far from spent." At the same time, the Russian president rejected a U.S.-led draft resolution that foresees a swift military strike against Iraq. "For us, no resolution that automatically contains the right to use force is acceptable," he said.

Likewise, Schröder said he was convinced there was still room for a peaceful resolution. "Baghdad must allow the continuation of inspections without any delay and must fulfill all requirements," he said.

The chancellor also underscored the common stance favored by Germany and Russia on Iraq. "Germany and Russia know from their own tortured experience what war means. And that's why the high level of agreement is moving," he said.

Wednesday's round of talks between Schröder and Putin was the latest move in their effort to prevent a war. It came as leaders wait to see whether Iraq begins to destroy mid-range Al Samoud 2 missiles by Saturday as ordered by the U.N. chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix. Blix says the missiles' range goes beyond the limit of 150 kilometers (93 miles) set by the Security Council in resolutions adopted after the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

In response to a new U.S.-sponsored resolution that says Baghdad has missed a "final opportunity" to disarm peacefully, Germany, France and Russia have presented an alternative plan that calls for U.N. weapons inspections to be extended beyond July 1, when the summer heat would make fighting more difficult.

Russians, French protest

Despite Russia's public opposition to the United States, its criticism remains somewhat restrained. Among Putin's aides, this position is described as active diplomacy and passive support of the United States. This position also was reflected in a recent article that appeared in the newspaper Izvestia. "We can't stop the war. But we will be able to have a say when Iraq is divided up," the article said.

Such a say would be important for Russia's oil business. Russia is the world's third biggest oil producer behind Saudi Arabia and the United States, pumping out nearly 6 million barrels a day. An Iraq that was no longer ruled by Saddam Hussein eventually could begin to heavily tap into the country's oil reserves, the second largest in the world. Such a change would turn Iraq from a minor producer of about 2 million barrels a day that is hamstrung by U.N. sanctions into a major player on the international market again.

Such a heavy producer could help drive down international prices. For Russia, whose government depends on oil revenues, a price below $20 a barrel could cause severe pain. Today, those prices are around $36 a barrel.

Russia also has its own economic ties to Iraq to think about. Five Russian companies already have bought oil production rights from Iraq, according to the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Iraq, as the Soviet Union's best weapons customer in the region, also owes Russia $8 billion. Russian officials fear that the overthrow of Saddam would endanger the drilling deals and the repayment of debts, the newspaper reported.

Chancellor presses his efforts

Schröder's visit to Moscow is one of a series of meetings he has held in his drive to prevent a war. He last met with Putin two weeks ago in Berlin and talked with French President Jacques Chirac on Monday evening in the German capital. By contrast, he last talked to U.S. President George W. Bush by telephone sometime in November or December, a Schröder spokesman said on Wednesday.

The diplomatic maneuvers focus on the U.N. Security Council. France and Russia hold veto power in the council. Germany, a non-permanent member, holds the rotating presidency this month.

The diplomatic discussion is being carried out amid continued military preparations. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization sent two airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from Germany to Turkey on Wednesday as part of the alliance's military aid to its only member that borders Iraq. About 30 German service members are among the 100-member group sent to Konya, Turkey. In addition, about 360 Dutch troops will be deployed at the Turkish bases of Batman and Diyarbakir to man Patriot air-defense missiles provided by Germany.

The aid, like the U.S. military pressure on Iraq, caused a split in the alliance. Germany, France and Belgium objected this month to a U.S. request to begin planning the mission. It took the alliance's leadership a week to work out a compromise on the issue.

The alliance also has asked its 19 members to report by Friday on additional aid they are willing to provide to the Turkish government. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (photo) made clear in a television interview on Wednesday night that Germany would not go beyond the AWACS crew members and the Patriot missiles. "Our view is that this is sufficient for defensive purposes," Fischer said of the Patriots.

U.S. awaits Turkish decision

In Washington, U.S. leaders are continuing to wait impatiently for Turkish approval of a separate military proposal -- the right for the United States to station up to 62,000 troops in the country. The U.S. military wants to use the troops to open a northern front against Iraq, creating extra pressure on Saddam's forces and seizing Iraqi oil fields in the region. In return the United States has agreed during long negotiations to provide Turkey with up to $30 billion in aid to offset any economic losses caused by a war.

The proposal still has to be approved by the Turkish parliament. The vote was expected to be taken Thursday, but was put off in order to give the government more time to discuss the proposal with the opposition. The issue is difficult for parliamentarians for several reasons. Most Turks oppose any war against Iraq. At the same time, parliamentary refusal could create major political problems for Turkey, which has received U.S. support in its effort to join the European Union. "A rejection would put our country and our people in a difficult position," the Turkish news agency Anatolia quoted a leading member of the government as saying.

Turkey also pulled out its ambassador from Baghdad on Wednesday. Turkish officials blamed increasing pressure from Iraq for the decision, not a growing likelihood of war. The embassy staff left earlier.