Putin, Chirac Slam US, British Air Raids on IraqRussian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac in a telephone conversation Monday, February 19, condemned the air raids on Iraq made by the US and Britain last week.They confirmed the close positions of Russia and France on the air strikes against Baghdad and described them as "counterproductive for the political settlement of the situation in Iraq," said the Kremlin press service. The presidents agreed to continue active efforts to restore the dialogue between Iraq and the United Nations and to ensure the Iraqi settlement on the basis of the well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council. Putin and Chirac also discussed international and Russian- French issues during the call, which lasted for more than half an hour, the press service said. They also talk over a visit by Chirac to Moscow this summer. |
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