Russia, France Hold Similar Position on Anti-Terror Combat: IvanovThe French and Russian positions on the struggle against international terrorism and on the current situation in and around Afghanistan are practically the same, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Tuesday in Moscow.Summing up the Tuesday meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Ivanov said the two leaders had vowed joint political efforts, along with the use of force, in combating international terrorism and in forming a new Afghan government. Russia and France believed such a government, supported by both the international community and domestic ethnic groups, "could establish good relations with the neighboring states and rule out the possibility of terrorist actions," Ivanov said. Jospin, who arrived here Monday for a two-day visit, stressed a "very positive" bilateral relation at a Tuesday news conference on his Moscow trip. Not only cooperation between Russia and France, but also cooperation with Europe in general, was discussed during his talks with Russian leaders, said Jospin. The talks covered issues of trade and economic exchange, energy and oil, Russia's debt and particularly cooperation in space and aeronautics, he said. Jospin, accompanied by a number of key ministers, also met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov Monday on a wide range of issues on economic cooperation. |
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