Russian President Vladimir Putin Speaks to British Prime Minister Tony Blair by Telephone

RUSSIA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

September 6, 2002

On the British side's initiative, a telephone conversation took place today between President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister.

Putin and Blair discussed urgent issues of the international situation, paying special attention to the circumstances surrounding Iraq. In basic terms, it was noted, the approaches of Russia and Great Britain to the Iraqi problem are fairly similar: both sides advocate the return to Iraq territory of international inspector groups and deployment in Iraq of a United Nations verification and inspection mechanism in accordance with the resolution of the UN Security Council. Putin especially stressed the existence of the real potential for a political solution of the Iraqi question and expressed profound doubts regarding the grounds for the use of force against Iraq, both from the point of view of international law and with respect to possible serious adverse consequences for the situation in the Persian Gulf and Middle East and also for keeping the coalition against terrorism intact.

Putin and Blair agreed to maintain contacts on this and other topical questions, including in the context of the preparation of the British Prime Minister's visit to Russia scheduled for this October.