While discussing the situation around Iraq, Mr Putin and Mr Chirac pointed to the identity of Russia’s and France’s positions on the given problem and their assessments of it. They supported the search for a political solution within the UN and reaffirmed their readiness to carry on close cooperation to these ends.
Mr Putin told Mr Chirac about the efforts being made to find a political solution to the so-called “nuclear problem” of North Korea.
Mr Putin and Mr Chirac also exchanged opinions on progress in preparations for a state visit by the Russian President to France.