Putin hails relaunch of Iraq oil for food program in talks with Berlusconi, Blair

MOSCOW (AFP) Mar 31, 2003
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the launch of the UN oil-for-food program in Iraq, in telephone talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Britain's Tony Blair, the Kremlin press service said Monday.

"In discussing Iraq, talks concentrated on humanitarian issues, as well as other ways of resolving the crisis, in which (Russia and Italy) are close and may have constructive cooperation," the Kremlin reported.

Speaking with Blair, Putin also "voiced his pleasure that opinions of (Russia and Britain) coincide regarding the United Nations' key role in international relations, in spite of certain differences."

Russia joined France and Germany in vehement opposition to the US-led war in Iraq, while Britain and Italy sided with Washington.

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