A telephone conversation took place on June 30 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

During the exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East, the sides reiterated their intention to continue to cooperate closely, including through the Quartet of international mediators, with a view to implementing the Road Map plan for Middle East settlement and monitoring this process effectively. In examining the situation in Iraq, the Russian side underscored the importance of the earliest possible formation of legitimate bodies of power of the country enjoying broad international support. In this context Igor Ivanov noted the necessity of making the most use of the potential of the United Nations in questions of the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq, as provided by UN Security Council resolution 1483.