Washington: US President George W Bush has raised the issue of sales of "prohibited"
military equipment to Iraq by Russian firms in a conversation on phone with his
Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the White House said.
"President Putin assured President Bush that he would look into it," White House
press secretary Ari Fleischer said on March 24, adding that Washington had
raised "such issues with Moscow over the past year".
"President Bush has been concerned and disturbed over the reported supply of
equipment," he said.
Earlier, Fleischer said Washington had "credible evidence" that the companies
supplied Iraq with "prohibited hardware".
He said, "The firms sold night-vision goggles technology to jam satellite signals
that could guide bombs and military aircraft used by the US-led coalition in its war
in Iraq."
Meanwhile, Putin's press secretary Alexei Gromov in Moscow said President Putin
reminded Bush in the conversation that Moscow has previously released information
proving that such sales have never occurred, according to the Interfax news agency.
The Russian leader said Washington had failed to provide proof to back its
allegations, and that could only damage bilateral relations, Gromov said.
Besides, in the conversation the Presidents also discussed the situation involving
Iraq, on humanitarian issues. Both reiterated their strong support for the US-Russia
partnership, and agreed to continue, despite the differences that the two have over
Iraq, Fleischer said.
Putin has asked Bush to focus on averting a humanitarian disaster in Iraq, Kremlin
Press service said in a statement.
Bush made that call during a phone conversation with the US President, the statement
said.
"In the course of exchange of views on the Iraq situation, the Russian side
specifically accented on the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing military
activities," it said.
"Vladimir Putin also reiterated Russia's declared stand on the Iraqi solution," it
said.
On March 21, the US Secretary of State Colin Powell had called up his Russian
counterpart Igor Ivanov to seek Moscow's co-operation in resolving the Iraq crisis.
Talking to reporters, Ivanov, however underscored the need to bring the Iraq process
on to the UN track, but he categorically ruled out Moscow going out of its way to
legitimise US-led invasion of Iraq.
PTI
