Russian Foreign Minister discussed UN Security Council draft resolution on Iraq with his counterparts

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov had telephone conversations with the US, Chinese and French foreign ministers. The sides continued to exchange opinions on the UN Security Council's draft resolution on Iraq.

According to the report of the Information and Press Department of the Russian foreign ministry, forwarded to RIA Novosti Thursday, the sides agreed that recent intensive efforts had showed a certain rapprochement on the key provisions of the Council's future decision. A number of Russia's concerns, especially the possibility of automatic application of force, were allayed during the discussion.

The ministers agreed to continue active consultations with a view to settling the remaining differences and, therefore, achieving compromises to open way for political and diplomatic solution of the issue, the Russian foreign ministry reported.