Russian President Vladimir Putin Speaks to US President George W. Bush by Telephone

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

September 6, 2002

Today, on the American side's initiative, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with US President George W. Bush.

As part of their regular exchange of views on the most burning issues in the international situation, the Heads of State discussed the situation around Iraq, both noting the need to elaborate a common position which would fully meet the interests of strengthening international security and consolidating the antiterrorist coalition.

In the course of the discussion the President of Russia expressed serious doubts regarding the ground in international legal and global political terms for the use of force against Iraq. The need for coordinated politico-diplomatic efforts to implement the existing UN Security Council resolutions on Iraq was underscored in this context.

Presidents Putin and Bush discussed also questions of building up collaboration within the antiterrorist coalition and a number of other topics.