Schroeder, Putin want joint strategy for Iraq

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01465629.htm

BERLIN, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin want the international community to work together on a strategy for postwar Iraq with a stronger U.N. role, the German government said on Monday.

A spokesman told a regular government news conference that Schroeder and Putin had talked by telephone in recent days.

"They agreed it would be helpful if the U.N. played a stronger role and both said it would make sense if all states who want to contribute to stabilisation and reconstruction could agree to a corresponding strategy," he said.

The spokesman said such a strategy could be developed as a new U.N. resolution was being drawn up and must address issues such as including all Iraq's religious and ethnic groups in governing the country and the role of neighbouring states.

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