Putin calls on France, Germany to aid US
SVETLOGORSK, Russia -- President Vladimir Putin yesterday called on the world community to work with the United States to bring stability to Iraq, saying after meeting with French and German leaders that past disputes over the US-led war should not prevent future cooperation.
Like France and Germany, Russia sharply opposed the invasion of Iraq and has expressed concerns about continuing violence and the increased attacks that have been blamed largely on Sunni Arab insurgents.
''All of the disagreements on the Iraqi problem must remain in the past," Putin said. ''We should be pooling efforts with the United States and with the countries that are present in Iraq today and that have assumed the function of promoting stability in that country in order to help the Iraqi people assume responsibility for its future."
President Jacques Chirac of France and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany came to this city outside the Baltic Sea port of Kaliningrad at Putin's invitation to mark the 750th anniversary of the founding of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg and now a Russian enclave cut off from the rest of Russia by EU members Poland and Lithuania.
Earlier, the two leaders told Putin that the positive relations between Russia and the EU were vital for world stability and for the prosperity of Kaliningrad.
''The relationship between Russia and the European Union is essential for world equilibrium," Chirac told Putin.
Putin defended Russia's decision last month to reject a proposed treaty with Estonia that would have delineated a final border between the two former Soviet republics.
Moscow balked at Estonian lawmakers' proposal to insert a statement about the five-decade Soviet occupation of the Baltic states.
Talks among the three leaders also focused on Iran's nuclear program, North Korea, and other issues. Putin largely enjoys the support of the French and German leaders, though some domestic critics blame the two countries for not confronting him on human rights abuse in the war in Chechnya.
The three leaders were also attending ceremonies marking the founding of Kaliningrad, a city founded in 1255 by the Teutonic Order of Knights and called Koenigsberg until Soviet troops took it over in 1945.
The festivities, which were attended by the leaders of all of Russia's 89 regions, were meant to reassert Russia's commitment to this region, which has been separated geographically from the rest of Russia since the Soviet collapse.
