Rice, Lavrov have testy exchange over Iraq at G8

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29192266.htm

Rice, Lavrov have testy exchange over Iraq at G8

<snip>

Reporters outside the closed-door meeting listened in on an audio feed that officials had not turned off.

Rice objected to Lavrov inserting words saying that security for foreign missions should be beefed up in Iraq after Russian embassy workers were killed this month, and complained there was no reference to an international aid accord for Iraq.

She said Lavrov's proposed language implied foreign interference with, rather than support for, the Iraqi government.

"I did not suggest this," Lavrov interjected. "What I did say was not 'involvement in the political process' but the 'involvement of the international community in support of the political process'."

"What does that mean?" Rice asked.

After a long pause, Lavrov told her, "I think you understand."

"No, I don't," she said.

...

"It's a pity, that we can't endorse something that's been endorsed by the Iraqis and the U.N.," she said. "But if that's how Russia sees it, that's fine."