Today, at the German and French leaders' initiative, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a three-sided telephone conversation with Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac.

The leaders of the three countries proceeded with their consultations on the situation around Iraq. Concern was expressed over the continuing instability and explosiveness of the situation in Iraq, one of the dangerous signs of which is the unabated terrorist activities. Readiness was underscored in this regard to go on working constructively on the draft new resolution of the United Nations Security Council on Iraq.

The sides are unanimous in the view that the resolution should ensure an effective increase in the degree of UN participation in the process of Iraqi settlement, speed up the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iraq, and enhance both the transparency of the political process and its accountability to the Security Council.

The Kremlin, Moscow, October 14, 2003