Russia's President Lauds British Premier's Tour Of South Asian Countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the recent trip of British Prime Minister Tony Blair to countries in the South Asian region, including Afghanistan, was "extremely timely". The Russian head of state voiced his appraisal during a Thursday telephone conversation with Blair, which was held on the initiative of the British side, reports presidential press secretary Alexei Gromov. It was a "no simple mission", which "has made a substantial contribution to joint actions within the framework of the international antiterrorist coalition", stressed Vladimir Putin.