¡¡¡¡MOSCOW, Aug. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia hailed on Friday Iraq's invitation to Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) to visit Baghdad and discuss a possible resumption of monitoring Iraqi disarmament program.

¡¡¡¡"Moscow believes that the Iraqi invitation is an important steptowards the settlement of the problem by political-diplomatic means in accordance with the UN Security Council's corresponding resolutions," the Russian foreign ministry stated.

¡¡¡¡The Russian foreign ministry pointed out that the invitation came right after a Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov had made a trip to Iraq and some otherstates of the region. During the visit, much consideration was given to the exchange of views on possible ways to unblock the Iraqi problem.

¡¡¡¡Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri on Thursday sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, saying he was ready to meet with Blix at an earliest possible date to discuss technical aspects of monitoring.

¡¡¡¡Sabri also said in his letter that the Iraqi government would like to have talks with the UN inspectors to review the remaining issues of Iraqi disarmament and tap the ways of their solution. Hebelieved this might help compile a comprehensive report on the situation and evaluate Iraq's commitment to its pledges as specified by UN Security Council's resolutions.

¡¡¡¡The United Nations has imposed sanctions against Iraq since 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait. The sanctions can be lifted only after international inspectors certify that Iraq has eliminated its weapons of mass destruction.

¡¡¡¡Baghdad claimed it had done so, but did not let inspectors intothe country since 1998, saying sanctions must be lifted first. Enditem