Vladimir Putin congratulated the French Foreign Minister on his appointment to the post and noted a high level of bilateral relations between Russia and France in the political sphere.
The President expressed hope for France’s constructive position on the Kaliningrad issue in the context of the forthcoming EU expansion.
In turn, the French minister expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Bashkir Airlines Tu-154 and conveyed a friendly message to Mr Putin from the French President Jacques Chirac.