PUTIN SEEKS END TO SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. President Putin
told visiting Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan that
Moscow favors an end to international sanctions against Iraq,
Russian and Western agencies reported on 18 April. But Putin
added that Baghdad must meet all conditions set by the United
Nations and that the sanctions can only be ended by a
diplomatic agreement. The two also agreed to set up an
experts commission to examine Iraqi debts to Russia. PG
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