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Mr Putin answered questions about the situation in Iraq and Russia’s cooperation with the European Union in the security and settlement of the conflict in the Middle East.

Mr Putin noted that a new United Nations resolution on Iraq, if adopted, could be useful but only if the UN itself played a substantive role in the country’s post-war rehabilitation.

Speaking of a new European security policy, Mr Putin said the process raised no fears in Russia. What was important was that the effort should be understandable and transparent. He said Russia was ready to cooperate both with NATO and other European security agencies.

In reply to a question about the situation in the Middle East, President Putin stressed that Russia adhered to the “road map” principles and expressed hope that the Palestinian leadership, including Yasser Arafat, would do everything possible to put an end to terror.