Schröder and Putin reaffirm common views on Iraq
After a one-hour meeting held in Berlin on Sunday, February 9, Chancellor Schröder and President Putin jointly advocated
the continuation of UN weapons inspections in Iraq. At the present time there is no reason to use military force, Putin
noted. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder met with President Vladimir Putin in Berlin on February 9. After their meeting
Schröder referred to Putin as his personal friend and a friend of Germany's. Their meeting focused strongly on Iraq, but
also dealt with bilateral issues in German-Russian relations, which Schröder and Putin both described as being very
good.
Speaking at a joint news conference Schröder noted that he and President Putin had had a very straightforward discussion
and that they were agreed on the issues at hand. He said what the foreign ministers of France, Russia, and Germany said
in the UN Security Council was correct. Security Council Resolution 1441 must be the basis for any political action in
the conflict with Iraq. He added that the two sides also share the view that Iraq must cooperate fully.
Schröder described reports coming from the weapons inspectors as encouraging, saying that Germany would do and provide
everything it can to help the inspectors get their job done. He indicated that the system of controls and sanctions
available to the inspectors should be expanded and improved wherever the latter feel it is appropriate. If Iraq is found
to have weapons of mass destruction then the country should be disarmed peacefully, Schröder indicated.
President Putin said he fully supports Chancellor Schröder's statements. He noted that the efforts being undertaken to
reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Iraq should be continued, adding that there is currently no reason to
use military force against Iraq.
On the morning of February 9 President Putin joined President Johannes Rau in opening an official program of
German-Russian cultural exchanges for the years 2003 and 2004.