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Putin: No grounds for using force against Iraq

"We see no grounds for using force at this time," he said. "A unilateral forcible solution would make millions of people suffer and would escalate tension in the region."

BERLIN. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder devoted a great deal of attention to the Iraq issue at their talks.

   After the talks, Putin told journalists that "peaceful efforts toward resolving this issue should be continued persistently."

   "We see no grounds for using force at this time," he said. "A unilateral forcible solution would make millions of people suffer and would escalate tension in the region."

   He also said that Russian specialists are thoroughly examining the information provided by the U.S. "We are convinced that international inspectors in Iraq should verify this information," he emphasized.

   The president believes that the UN Security Council will make a decision on future actions based only on the conclusions drawn by the international inspection.

   Asked about a German-French initiative to resolve the Iraqi issue, Putin said: "actually, the positions of Russia, Germany, and France coincide." "China also holds the same position and, according to our assessment, the majority of UN Security Council members also share this approach."

Putin Almost Wholly Agrees With French, German Iraq Proposals

BERLIN (AFX) - Russia is "almost completely in agreement" with proposals by France and Germany to disarm Iraq by peaceful means, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

"All those who follow the evolution of the situation in Iraq can see that France, Germany and Russia are almost completely in agreement," he said.

Putin said the UN weapons inspectors should be given more time and greater means to carry out their work.

See Also: France, Germany Working On War Alternative For Iraq:

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