Putin: British Proposal on Iraq Acceptable for Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the proposal by Great Britain for a three-stage process for regulating the situation in Iraq as 'acceptable for Russia' at a press conference on Thursday after negotiations were completed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

According to the plan presented by the British prime minister, in the first stage of regulation, post-war reconstruction must be conducted in Iraq, including stabilizing the situation with providing security and improving the humanitarian situation. In the second stage a provisional administration will be created. In the third stage a new constitution will be approved and an authoritative government will be created. The anti-Iraq coalition must work with the UN to solve these problems, according to Blair.

'This is a good base for discussing the problem and rapprochement in our positions,' said Putin. He also said that 'it is necessary to clearly designate the role of the UN and the UN Security Council in all stages.'

The next meeting between the two leaders will take place in St. Petersburg in May during the city's tri-centennial celebration.