Russian, German and French Foreign Ministers to Discuss Iraq Today

The Russian, German and French Foreign Ministers are to discuss the problem of Iraq today in Paris. According to the RTR television station, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer will join his French and Russian counterparts in Paris today. The meeting will take place after Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has met with French President Jacques Chirac for Russian-French bilateral talks.

Russia, France and Germany have adopted a joint position on Iraq and are opposed to the use of force to disarm Baghdad. They believe that the heads of UNMOVIC and the IAEA should use the UN Security Council's March 7 meeting to present a programme of concrete actions for the international inspection team and an exact timetable for these to be carried out.

Igor Ivanov met British Prime Minister Tony Blair earlier today in London, but here has not yet been any official comment on the talks. Directly after the end of the meeting, Igor Ivanov headed for the airport to catch a flight to Paris.