Bush Phones Putin to Debate Iraq Issue
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President George Bush of the United States talked by telephone on Tuesday evening. The initiative came from the American side, the presidential press service reports.
During the conversation, Mr. Bush outlined his vision of the Iraq crisis in the light of his latest address to the nation. For his part, Vladimir Putin expressed regret over Washington’s ultimatum decision and a failure to reach a compromise despite intensive diplomatic efforts. The Russian President said that, whatever the circumstances, the United Nations and the UN Security Council should play a key role in ensuring international peace and stability. Both leaders underlined that, whatever differences in approaches and assessments, supporting bilateral contacts is particularly important in crisis situations like this. Meanwhile, Russian and American government officials continue holding to their earlier adopted positions on Iraq.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov left for New York to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council, where reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) are scheduled to be discussed.
Commenting on Saddam Hussein’s rejection of George Bush’s ultimatum, the White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said it was a very serious and the final mistake of the Iraqi leader. He noted that Saddam Hussein had already made many mistakes, but an end would be put to that now. Ari Fleischer confirmed that the ultimatum expired at 0100GMT (4:00 Moscow time) on March 20, ÀÂÑ News reports.
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