The Senator congratulated all Russian diplomatic services who had done their bit to rescue the hostages. "Partnership has always connected Russia and Iraq. I am happy to say that, in the recent crisis, Russia did not succumb to emotion to change its attitudes to Iraq," he said.
Despite their escape, the captives' drama has drastically reduced Russian presence in Iraq-more than a hundred employees are coming home, Mr. Margelov added with regret.
He hopes that Russian-based companies and their personnel will go back to Iraq as it regains stability. The Senator called on the coalition to pass Iraqi rule to a lawfully elected government, and to attract the United Nations and other peacekeeping and humanitarian forces to stabilization coordinating efforts.
"The UN and the entire global community alone can U-turn Iraqi developments through teamwork proceeding from basic democratic principles and freedoms," he stressed.
