Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/11/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RUSSIA / EURO/ IRAQ (S-2nd UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-302100

BYLINE=LISA McADAMS

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

/// UPDATES CR 2-302087 ///

INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the collapse of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime, but has again stated his opposition to the use of force against the country. Speaking at the start of two days of talks in St. Petersburg with the leaders of France and Germany, President Putin also said that the Iraqi reorganization process must be returned to the United Nations. V-O-A's Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports:

TEXT: President Putin called for a leading role for the United Nations in post-war Iraq Friday, as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac joined him in his hometown of Saint Petersburg for talks.

Mr. Putin said Russia, Germany and France would do everything in their power to preserve the stability of international law, which, he added, is based on the supremacy of the United Nations. Though he said he welcomed Saddam Hussein's ouster, Mr. Putin, as he has many times in the past, made clear he was opposed to the U-S-led military campaign in Iraq.

The leaders of France, Germany and Russia were the most vocal European opponents of the U-S-led war and all have expressed strong support for the United Nations taking a leading role in post-war Iraq. The United States has said the U-N can play a part, but the coalition nations that did the fighting will for now have the leading role. (Signed)

NEB/LAM/KL/MEM/KBK