When asked by the Russian newspaper Izvestia March 12 if there would be consequences for Russia if Moscow uses its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block U.S. efforts to set a deadline for Iraq to disarm or face a military action, U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow said: "I am afraid there will be, at least in the short term."

Vershbow said space cooperation would be among U.S.-Russian projects that could be affected by a Russian veto at the Security Council.

"We consider Russian partners to be very important assistants in space after the Columbia catastrophe," Vershbow said. "It would be a pity if progress in these spheres will be delayed or reversed altogether because of serious differences over Iraq."

Tom Leary, the U.S. embassys press attach in Moscow, confirmed Vershbows March 12 comments to Izvestia.

A State Department official in Washington was aware of Vershbows comments but could not say whether NASA had been given any guidance on its dealings with Russia in light of the disagreement over Iraq.

A senior NASA official said that Vershbows comments so far have had no effect on the U.S. space agencys dealings with its Russian partners.

"The space station program and the partnership have not been impacted by other international debates such as potential conflict in Iraq," the senior NASA official said.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and other Russian officials have said that Russia would use its U.N. Security Council veto to block any resolution that would trigger a military invasion of Iraq.

Officials at the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) told Space News March 13 that they hope Iraq will not be a factor in consultations among the international space station partners over how to keep the orbital outpost operating while NASAs space shuttle fleet remains grounded.

Russian officials continue to insist that they cannot afford to supply extra Progress vehicles for the station without outside help while NASA continues to insist that its hands are tied by a U.S. law enacted to curb weapons proliferation to Iran.

The Iran Non Proliferation Act of 2000 (H.R. 1883) prohibits NASA from buying space station-related hardware from Russia unless the White House certifies that Russian aerospace companies have not provided any assistance to Iranian missile program within the past year. The law permits the White House to request a one-time exception if Russian goods or services are needed to ensure the safety of astronauts living onboard the space station.

Three U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill (H.R. 1001) in the House of Representatives that would amend the Iran Act to permit NASA to pay for extra Progress and Soyuz in order to keep the station continuously occupied while the shuttle is grounded. No action has been taken on the measure since it was introduced Feb. 27.

Aleksei Krasnov, Rosaviakosmos deputy head of international cooperation, said March 13 that Russia hopes the United States and other space station partners will help pay for the construction of extra Progress-M cargo ships needed to keep the station occupied while the shuttle fleet remains grounded.

Krasnov said the space station partners need to decide by the end of March whether they can contribute the $100 million that Russia needs to build the three additional Progress spacecraft that would be needed if the shuttle fleet remains grounded through 2004.

Krasnov said the $100 million in aid would be combined with the additional money Rosaviakosmos is requesting from the Russian government to purchase enough Progress-M resupply ships to keep the station inhabited through 2004.

"One can only guess whether the government will be able to find extra funds," a Rosaviakosmos official said.