We believe the use of force against Iraq, especially with reference to previous resolutions of the UN Security Council, has no grounds, including legal grounds.

On July 18 President Putin accepted Ivanov's resignation and appointed Valentin Sobolev as acting secretary followed shortly by the appointment of Sergey Lavrov as foreign minister. Minister of Foreign Affairs
He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on September 11 1998. Resignation
Ivanov was succeeded to the post of foreign minister by Sergey Lavrov in 2004 and appointed by President Vladimir Putin to the post of Secretary of the Security Council.