Powell on his talks with Ivanov concerning Iraq

US Secretary of State Colin Powell thinks his Wednesday telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, intended as part of the effort to work out a new UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, was "very productive and constructive," Richard Boucher, official spokesman for the US State Department, told journalists in Washington.

According to Boucher, Russia has advanced a number of proposals concerning the draft resolution. "We are busy considering them," he said, adding that the USA would issue an answer after "internal consultations" among members of the Bush administration.

"We welcome the work we have done so far together with the Russians," Boucher went on. He added also that the US State Department and the foreign ministries of other members of the permanent "group of five" forming the UN Security Council were making preparations for a meeting between foreign ministers, which is to take place this Saturday.

"It's going to be an informal discussion involving the five permanent members and the UN secretary-general, focusing on the situation in Iraq and ideas concerning the resolution," Boucher reported.