Discussing the UN Security Council’s latest session on Iraq, Mr Putin and Mr Chirac pointed out that their countries shared the view that the Iraqi conflict should be dealt with diplomatically and both spoke in favour of further joint efforts towards a negotiated solution.
President Putin and President Chirac agreed to take up Iraq and other international issues, as well as a whole range of bilateral Russian-French issues, when Mr Putin comes to France for a state visit on February 10, 2003.