MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow is sceptical about the reported violations in the implementation of the oil-for-food programme for Iraq, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov.
He recalled that all the payments within this programme were strictly controlled - via a special UN account.
Mr. Fedotov also noted that all the publications on the issue coincided with the aggravations in Iraq.
"We are now on the threshold of a brand new stage in Iraq's development when the international community is faced with more important tasks," stressed the deputy foreign minister.
"Nonetheless, we respect the intention of the UN secretary general to conduct an independent probe because accusations were voiced in respect of some high-level UN officials, and we did not mind the adoption of a resolution to the effect in the UN Security Council," added Mr. Fedotov.
