VLADIMIR PUTIN ON DEMOLITION OF BUDDHA STATUES








MOSCOW, March 12, 2001. /From RIA Novosti correspondent Oleg Osipov/--Demolition of pre-Islamic cultural monuments on Afghan territory is highly regrettable, said Vladimir Putin at today's press conference that followed Russian-Iranian talks in Moscow.


	One of the topics of Putin's conversation with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami was the situation in the Mideast, to which Putin referred as "complicated." The Russian president said he was convinced that it is impossible to solve Mideastern problems without taking into consideration the interests of every people inhabiting the region.