No serious differences among G-8 leaders on West Asia: Putin

St Petersburg, July 17 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin today said there were no serious differences among G-8 leaders during the drafting and adoption of resolutions on West Asia.

''We did not proceed from different, diametrically opposite points of view. Our objectives were absolutely the same. The question only was that our proposals had to be correct and compatible with international law,'' President Putin said at the final press conference.

He said in settling the West Asia conflict, priority must be given to diplomatic methods with the United Nations playing a central role.

''The main thing now is to stop the growing contradictions, to prevent extremists from plunging the region back into chaos and provoking a broader conflict, to stop the sufferings of innocent people and give priority to political and diplomatic methods of settlement with the United Nations playing the central role,'' Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

The president also said it was too early to discuss Russia's eventual participation in international stabilisation forces in the West Asia.

''When there is a UN Security Council decision, then we will decide whether we should participate,'' Mr Putin stressed.

UNI XC SK RN1935