Putin, Bush discuss Iran, NMD

Moscow, Mar 29 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart George W Bush have discussed Iranian nuclear issue and National Missile Defence (NMD) over telephone, the Press Service reported.

''Tehran had been given a serious political signal concerning the need to cooperate with the IAEA and the international community and also the fact that the latest UN resolution definitely rules out the use of force,'' the Press Service said.

''The importance of the joint-statement of the Foreign Ministers of the six nations, expressing readiness for talks, was stressed during the telephonic conversation, yesterday,'' it added.

''In the process of exchanging opinions, Mr Putin stated the reasons behind Russia's anxiety about the US plans to deploy missile defence elements in Central Europe. He was satisfied with the readiness expressed by the US President to discuss the subject with the Russian side in detail, and cooperate in the interests of common security,'' it pointed out.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry warned that Moscow will take into account US anti-missile plans in Europe.

''We think that such things should be done transparently, through consultations with Russia,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin told Interfax news agency.

Mr Kamynin was commenting on the decision by the Czech government to launch official talks with the US on the deployment of a radar station on its territory.

He stressed that ''in case the US deploys anti-missile bases in Europe, Russia will naturally have to take such a move into consideration in its Defence policy.'' UNI