French and Russian leaders confer on Iraq, reaffirm UN role

MOSCOW (AFP) Apr 05, 2003
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Iraq with French President Jacques Chirac in a telephone conversation on Saturday, and the two leaders confirmed their wish to see the United Nations play a leading role, a Russian statement said.

The two countries' approach "agrees on the role of the UN in settling the Iraqi crisis and dealing with humanitarian problems in Iraq," the statement said.

The statement also expressed satisfaction at three-way talks held in Paris on Friday between the foreign ministers of Russia, France and Germany, the three main western states opposed to the war.

The Russian statement said Saturday's conversation took place at the initiative of the French.

It also said the two leaders agreed on the need for the international community to work for "peace and security in the Middle East."

SPACE.WIRE