Putin, Bush Pledge to Keep Open Political Dialogue over Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 06, 2003

Putin, Bush Pledge to Keep Open Political Dialogue over Iraq

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President agreed, in a telephone conversation, on Saturday that it is "important" to keep open the political dialogue over Iraq to seek a solution conducive to the international community, the Kremlin press service said.

During the conversation, both leaders emphasized "the importance of continuing the intensive political dialogue between the two countries" despite the differences in their positions overIraq, the press service said in a statement.

The phone call was made by Bush, who discussed with Putin the Iraqi crisis and further contacts between the two countries over the Iraqi issue, said the statement.

In a related development, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that its ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, is leaving the country to follow the order to reduce embassy staff members to "a strict minimum" to ensure their safety.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko confirmed that Titorenko is among those being evacuated, but he declined to give further details.

Just on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Russian embassy, near which an residential area in Baghdad came under bombing raids on Wednesday, is currently working "in order."

"At the moment, the Russian embassy is operating on a regular regime, with its staff totaling 26," an official from the Russian Foreign Ministry was quoted by Interfax agency as saying.

The area near the Russian embassy was bombarded several times on Wednesday, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

The Russian diplomatic compound in Baghdad has a bombproof shelter and independent power and water supply systems, the official said.

Russian has protested against the near-hit bombing incidents and "demanded that the US authorities take urgent and exhaustive measures to prevent such dangerous and unacceptable incidents from happening in the future," according to a Foreign Ministry statement handed to US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced opposition to the US-led war, calling for a gradual political settlement of the Iraq crisis within the framework of the United Nations.

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