Putin Says Relations with Blair 'Open, Friendly'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 23, 2003

Putin Says Relations with Blair 'Open, Friendly'

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview broadcast Sunday that Russia's opposition to the war in Iraq had not damaged ties with Britain, emphasizing that his relationship with British Prime Minister Tony Blair was open and friendly.

We believed it was possible to tell each other what we actually think rather than what our diplomats advise us to say, Putin said in an exclusive interview with the BBC One's Breakfast with Frost,days before his state visit to Britain from Tuesday to Friday.

Claiming that relations between Russia and Britain has been raised to a new level, Putin underscored the importance of political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Putin would meet with Blair, the staunchest US ally on Iraq, for lunch at 10 Downing Street, and the two would jointly open a conference on Russia's energy industry.

Local reports quoted some British officials as saying that Putin's upcoming visit would show that Britain and Russia have moved on from their dispute over Iraq.

Russia, together with France and Germany, opposed the Anglo-American war against Iraq.

During his trip to Britain, Putin and his wife Lyudmila would stay at Buckingham Palace as guests of British Queen Elizabeth II.

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